Falcons deal Greyhounds first LSC loss

ODESSA, Texas — Eastern New Mexico suffered its first Lone Star Conference volleyball loss of the season on Tuesday. UT-Permian Basin took down the Greyhounds in four sets, 25-15, 16-25, 25-23, 25-16.

The Falcons (6-4, 1-1) went on a 17-8 run to end the first set, before the Greyhounds (4-6, 2-1) built a commanding lead to take the second set. However, ENMU blew a 12-8 lead in the third set, and lost by two points. Finally, UTPB finished off Eastern with a runaway fourth set victory to earn its first league win of 2018.

Jasmine Gannon led the Hounds with 16.5 points, followed by Sarah Tuioti-Mariner’s 10.5. Gannon also led in kills (16) with Tuioti-Mariner (10) once again coming in second. Rae Sapiga had a team-high 19 assists, while Kaitlyn Kluna had 16 of her own. Alba Ontiveros led with 17 digs, while Eastern recorded just a .197 hitting percentage.

As for UTPB, Skyler Friel had 13.5 points and 12 kills, Analise Lucio had 22 assists, Sarah Vasquez had 18 digs, and the team as a whole recorded a .300 hitting percentage.

The Greyhounds resume the LSC season Friday with the first of a home back-to-back. They’ll host Angelo State at 6 p.m., and then go noon Saturday against Tarleton State.