ENMU wins pair to begin play in LSC crossover

AUSTIN, Texas — Junior libero Getsemani Carrasco and senior setter Qitana Sapiga posted double-doubles and Eastern New Mexico University overcame an early deficit in Game 5 for a 20-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-27, 15-11 victory over host St. Edward’s in the Lone Star Conference’s crossover tournament on Friday night.

ENMU (8-3), which beat Oklahoma Christian 14-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-17 on Thursday to kick off the weekend event, won for the seventh time in eight matches with Friday’s triumph over the Hilltoppers (2-8).

The Hounds were set to wrap up play in the event on Saturday, facing Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Carrasco collected 20 digs and 18 assists while Sapiga posted 11 digs and 16 assists for ENMU against St. Ed’s. The Hounds erased a 5-3 deficit in Game 5 with four consecutive points before sealing the deal on senior outside hitter/middle blocker Jordan O’Connor-Dempsey’s kill on match point.

Junior outside hitter Mikaela Garvin collected 14 kills, while senior middle Adriana Puni just missed a double-double with nine kills and 17 digs.

St. Ed’s took a tight first game, using a 6-1 run to take command with a 20-15 lead. The Hounds led 7-3 to open the second set behind three kills from Garvin, then went up 20-12 after a five-point surge before two kills from junior outside hitter Kali Nelson helped close it out.

In Game 3, ENMU went on an 11-3 charge to take a 20-14 advantage, with Garvin starting it on consecutive kills and freshman outside hitter Anjolina Perez and senior middle blocker Gracelyn Stubbs also adding a pair of kills during the run.

The Hounds erased a 14-7 deficit with an 11-4 blitz in the fourth game, and got to set point before the Hilltoppers rallied with a 4-1 run to square the match.

The teams were credited with nearly 200 digs combined, with ENMU posting an ever-so-slim 100-99 edge. It was the Hounds’ first win over the Hilltoppers’ on their court, and the first time they’ve beaten them at all since 2015.

ENMU 3, OC 1 — The Eagles broke away from a 10-10 tie with a 15-4 blitz to end the first set before the Hounds rallied back.

OC threatened to open a two-game lead, but the Hounds wiped out a three-point deficit with a set-ending 7-0 run. Then two kills each from Perez and Garvin keyed a 6-0 rally for a 20-16 lead in Game 3 before ENMU tallied the final four points, two on aces by Perez.

In Game 4, the Hounds broke away from a 16-16 tie with a match-ending 9-1 surge, starting with kills from Garvin, junior outside hitter Kali Nelson and Perez and ending it with the help of a kill and two aces from Perez.

Garvin finished with 12 kills, while Sapiga had another double-double with 14 digs and 18 assists and Perez added eight kills, 11 digs and four aces. ENMU served 11 aces in the match, tying the third-best mark in program history.

Fort Lewis 2, ENMU 0 (women’s soccer, Thursday) — At Durango, Colo., sophomore midfielders Gabby Meraz-Fishbein and Sabrina Reyes scored first-half goals and the Skyhawks made them stand up for their first victory of the season.

Fort Lewis (1-3-1) kept the pressure on early before Meraz-Fishbein found the top right corner of the net with 11:50 gone in the half. About 14 minutes later, Reyes fired one in from deep, and that was all Fort Lewis needed.

Junior goalkeeper Samantha Jeffries helped keep the Hounds in it, making a season-best eight saves, but in turn ENMU (2-2) had no shots on goal.

The Hounds is slated to face Denver-based Metro State in their home opener at noon today at Greyhound Stadium.