Tarleton thumps Hounds 41-6

PORTALES — After a solid start in pre-conference play, this wasn’t the way Eastern New Mexico University’s volleyball team was hoping to begin its Lone Star Conference slate.

The Greyhounds, who lost their home opener in four sets on Friday night to Oklahoma Christian, saw a two-game lead get away on Saturday in a 14-25, 22-25, 26-24, 25-23, 15-8 setback to Arkansas-Fort Smith at Greyhound Arena.

Senior middle blocker Gracelyn Stubbs posted a career-best 21 kills for ENMU (9-5 overall), while junior setter/outside hitter Jaylynn Nihipali (a personal-best 29 assists, 13 digs) and senior setter Qitana Sapiga (22 assists, 13 digs) both picked up double-doubles. It was Sapiga’s fifth double-double of the campaign and the sixth — including four in a row — for Nihipali.

Also, junior outside hitter/libero Rylee Mapes had a career day for ENMU with five kllls and 11 digs.

For the Lions (8-5, 2-0 LSC), sophomore middle blocker Chyra Thompson collected 13 kills and five blocks — three solos — and junior setter Chloe Price had a double-double with 12 digs and 43 assists.

ENMU used a 14-6 run that included 10 kills — five by Stubbs — to run away with Game 1, then opened a 10-2 advantage before hanging on in the second set, locking it up on back-to-back kills by Stubbs.

In the third, the Hounds were two points away from a sweep before UAFS rallied back with a 6-1 finish to close to within a set. In Game 4, the Lions took control late with a 5-1 surge and held on to force a tie-breaker game.

Fort Smith then used a 6-1 surge to open a 10-4 lead in the fifth and went on to close it out.

ENMU hits the road this weekend for conference matches at Texas-Tyler on Friday and at Dallas Baptist on Saturday.

ENMU women 10th — At Lubbock, sophomore Marta Pascoa ran a time of 23 minutes, 10.1 seconds to finish 21st in a field of and lead Eastern New Mexico University’s women to a 10th-place standing out of 13 teams, including six Division I squads, in Saturday’s Texas Tech Open cross country meet.

Other finishes for the Greyhounds included senior Lethabo Seema, 64th in 26:21.0; senior Kaylyn De La Rosa, 66th in 26:23.1; junior Lauren Griego, 74th in 25:57.5; freshman Valeria Martinez, 78th in 27:21.2; freshman Elise Toya, 90th in 29:09.8, and sophomore Zoe Hutcherson, 93rd in 29:47.8.

Oklahoma was first in team standings with 41 points, followed by West Texas A&M with 72 and Baylor with 75. WT went 1-2 individually, led by Florance Uwajeneza in 20:58.2.

Senior Devis Cheruiyot led three ENMU men’s runners with an 8K time of 28:19.40, good for 70th place in a field of 116 runners, followed by freshman Ethan Woodrome, 98th in 30:29.11, and sophomore Ricky Diaz, 110th in 33:35.44.

New Mexico claimed men’s team honors with 37 points to 71 for Oklahoma. The Lobos had the top three individuals, led by Kevin Mulcaire in 24:32.07.

The Hounds are back in action in the Highlands Cross Country Jam on Saturday in Las Vegas, N.M., hosted by New Mexico Highlands.