TWU downs ENMU

Staff writer

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It was a rough way for the ENMU volleyball team to open Lone Star Conference play on Friday night.

Texas Woman’s, also beginning conference play, defeated ENMU 25-16, 25-18, 25-27, 25-22 at Greyhound Arena on Friday night. The Pioneers (7-2) spoiled the home opener for the Greyhounds (5-5).

After winning the first two sets, the Pioneers couldn’t finish the sweep as ENMU fought back to win the third set, with Amanda Dietz and Laura Landreth collecting kills to break a 25-all tie.

It looked like ENMU might force a fifth set as it built a 19-14 lead in Game 4, only to let it slip away as TWU scored 11 of the final 14 points to close it out.

Hounds coach Sia Poyer acknowledged that TWU has a good team, but said his squad had its chances to win the match.

“We got stuck in certain rotations that we couldn’t get out of,” he said. “We just had too many errors. We didn’t pass well and couldn’t run our offense effectively.”

Poyer noted that TWU was able to limit ENMU outside hitter Lauren Frye. While Frye finished the night with 20 kills, she also had 11 attack errors.

“They’re in our conference, so they’ve seen our films,” Poyer said. “They knew to key on (Frye) and they did a good job.”

ENMU, which posted a 7-3 advantage in aces, got 24 digs from sophomore defensive specialist Andrea Aguilar and 33 assists from sophomore setter Alexis Aguirre.

Three players finished with double-doubles for the Pioneers, who play at West Texas A&M today — freshman outside hitter Makayla Mayfield posted 13 kills and 10 digs, while junior middle blocker Sara Oxford notched 11 kills and 12 digs and junior outside hitter Mallory Kuechle added 10 kills and 13 digs.

The Greyhounds have a quick turnaround with a 1 p.m. LSC matchup against Texas A&M-Commerce today.