The Eastern New Mexico University volleyball team is set to begin its conference schedule with away matches against Texas A&M International on Friday and Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday.
Eastern New Mexico recently ended an eight-game losing streak by securing victories over Sul Ross State and Western New Mexico at the LSC Challenge. Junior outside hitter Sophia Valdez was named the Lone Star Conference (LSC) offensive player of the week after averaging 4.43 kills per set and achieving a .338 hitting percentage during the weekend. Valdez leads her team with 126 kills this season, ranking third in the LSC for kills per set at 3.60. Freshman Addison Bartlett has contributed 86 kills, placing her 31st in the conference, and averages 2.46 kills per set.
Transfer middle blocker Amya Speller leads Eastern New Mexico in total blocks with 25 and has added 48 kills while maintaining a .255 hitting percentage. Violeta Flores is averaging 5.26 assists per set, totaling 179 so far this season.
Defensively, Imahni Brown reached her 500th career dig as a Greyhound during a recent win over Western New Mexico. She currently leads the team with 155 digs and ranks sixth in the conference with an average of 4.43 digs per set. Bartlett follows closely behind with 105 digs.
Currently, Eastern New Mexico stands at eleventh place in several conference statistics: points (14.86), total points (520), kills (11.09 per set; total of 409), and blocks (1.51 per set; total of 53).
Texas A&M International enters Friday’s match holding a record of two wins and seven losses, having lost their last six games consecutively. The Dustdevils’ Sierra Long has recorded 66 kills this year, averaging 2.20 per set, and is second on her team for blocks with fifteen overall. Natalie Cisneros leads Texas A&M International in assists with a total of 157, while Samantha Estrada tops serving aces at fifteen.
Texas A&M-Kingsville will host Eastern New Mexico on Saturday after improving to a seven-win, two-loss record following their straight-set victory over Texas Woman’s University earlier this week. Kendall Harrington leads Kingsville offensively with131 kills—an average of just over three per set—and eight blocks so far this season.The Javelinas are second among all conference teams for serving aces (77). Monique Gonzalez heads up defensive efforts for Kingsville with128 digs to date.
Looking ahead,Eastern New Mexico aims to improve its standing within the Lone Star Conference as it begins league play on the road.
