DENTON, Texas — Sophomore Veronica Valdez had 18 kills and nine digs Saturday as the Eastern New Mexico University volleyball team rallied from a one-game deficit to beat Texas A&M-International 17-25, 25-16, 25-18, 25-23.

The Zias then faced Lone Star Conference rival and host Texas Woman’s in a non-conference match and absorbed a 25-13, 25-14, 25-18 loss from the Pioneers.

ENMU (6-15) rallied to dominate the second and third games against A&M-International (3-16), and led 7-3 early in the fourth set after a kill by freshman Sarah Koch. The Dustdevils rallied back for a 19-16 lead on Nicole Gipson’s kill, but the Zias scored the final two points on kills by Valdez and Karen McIntyre.

Koch added nine kills for the Zias, while sophomore libero Caitlin Murphy picked up 25 digs. Gipson had 18 kills for A&M-International, while Brittany Smith contributed 11 kills and five total blocks.

Texas Woman’s (13-7) trailed only once by a point in each of the first two games against the Zias, but ENMU jumped out to a 7-2 lead in Game 3 before the Pioneers rallied back with seven consecutive points. The run included two aces by Alyson Harlan.

Senior outside hitter Nicole Vanderploeg posted 10 kills and 11 digs for the Zias. Dani Veitenheimer led Texas Woman’s with 10 kills.
ENMU begins a three-match homestand on Tuesday with a 7 p.m. contest against New Mexico Highlands at Greyhound Arena.


Saturday
At Denton, Texas

ENMU 3, Texas A&M-International 1

ENMU    17    25    25    25
A&M-International    25    16    18    23

Individual statistics
Kills — Eastern New Mexico, Veronica Valdez 18, Sarah Koch 13. Texas A&M-International, Nicole Gipson 18, Brittany Smith 11. Block solos — Eastern New Mexico, Valdez 1. Texas A&M-International, Smith 3, Clovershea McGill 2. Block assists — Eastern New Mexico, Jessica King 2, Karen McIntyre 2, Grace Brandt 1, Koch 1. Texas A&M-International, McGill 4, Smith 4, Gipson 1, Alex Montemayor 1. Digs — Eastern New Mexico, Caitlin Murphy 25, Brandt 14. Texas A&M-International, Montemayor 17, Danielle Gilley 14, Madison Mojica 12, Daniela Gutierrez 10. Aces — Eastern New Mexico, Heidi Geyer 3, Murphy 2, Valdez 1, Nicole Vanderploeg 1. Texas A&M-International, Smith 2, Gutierrez 1, Montemayor 1. Assists — Eastern New Mexico, McIntyre 20, Brandt 13. Texas A&M-International, Gilley 32. T — 1:22. A — 67. Records — Eastern New Mexico 6-14, Texas A&M-International 3-16.

Texas Woman’s 3, ENMU 0
ENMU    13    14    18
Texas Woman’s    25    25    25
Individual statistics
Kills — Eastern New Mexico, Vanderploeg 10, Valdez 5. Texas Woman’s, Dani Veitenheimer 10, LyGene Traylor 7. Block solos — Eastern New Mexico, Valdez 1. Texas Woman’s, none. Block assists — Eastern New Mexico, none. Texas Woman’s, Katelyn Osborne 7, Sharon Schaffner 4, Sydney Veitenheimer 3, Traylor 2, Heather Maddox 1, D. Veitenheimer 1. Digs — Eastern New Mexico, Murphy 11, Vanderploeg 11. Texas Woman’s, Kendra Colson 20, Schaffner 11. Aces — Eastern New Mexico, McIntyre 2, Vanderploeg 1. Texas Woman’s, Hayley Summers 3, Alyson Harlan 2, three tied with 1. Assists — Eastern New Mexico, McIntyre 9, Brandt 7. Texas Woman’s, S. Veitehheimer 20, Maddox 11. T — 1:03. A — 321. Records — Eastern New Mexico 6-15, Texas Woman’s 13-7.