ENMU turns back Midwestern State

Staff report

WICHITA FALLS, Texas — Junior outside hitter Lauren Frye collected 17 kills and junior outside hitter Courtney Dawson notched her sixth double-double of the season on Tuesday as Eastern New Mexico University’s volleyball team turned back Midwestern State 23-25, 25-12, 26-24, 25-16.

Sophomore middle blocker Brooklyn Biel added 13 kills and five total blocks (one solo) for the Greyhounds (11-13, 4-8 Lone Star Conference), who all but assured themselves a trip to next month’s LSC postseason tournament and relegated the Mustangs (5-20, 0-11) to the league cellar.

Freshman middle blockers Kiley Beaver and Olivia Schiffner had 10 kills apiece for MSU, which lost its sixth in a row and 14th in the last 15 outings despite winning Game 1 for the third consecutive match.

MSU built a 24-19 lead in the first set, but the Hounds closed to within a point before Shiffner’s kill on set point.

ENMU led virtually all the way in the second set, finally expanding a 13-11 with a 10-0 run that featured three kills and two block assists by Biel.

The Hounds erased a 4-0 deficit to lead 8-7 in Game 3, but had a tough time putting the set away. The Mustangs used a 3-0 run to go up 24-23 before ENMU scored the final three points to lead 2-1 in games.

The Hounds opened a 6-1 lead at the start of the fourth set and never let the Mustangs closer than three points the rest of the way.

Sophomore libero Andrea Aguilar of Clovis had a match-high 23 digs while freshman Talaitupu Faumui added 21. Lawson, meantime, had 16 digs to go with her 10 kills.

Sophomore setter Alexis Aguirre just missed a double-double for ENMU with 49 assists and nine digs.

ENMU is now 15-17 all-time against the Mustangs, including 7-5 at Wichita Falls.

The Hounds return to Greyhound Arena this weekend, hosting LSC contests against Tarleton State at 7 p.m. on Friday and against Angelo State at 2 p.m. on Saturday.