The Highlands Volleyball team fell short to cross-state rival Eastern New Mexico University in five (25-17,25-22,24-26,22-25,20-18) sets in Portales on 11/1.
Junior Outside Hitter
Brook Tuttle who had 17 kills, one block and seven digs led the Cowgirls. Defensively, Freshman Libero
Sheila Olaechea had a career-high 38 digs with out any reception errors.
Senior Setter
Brooke Fahnestock had 49 assists and 16 digs.
The first two sets were violently controlled by the Zias who had excessive runs of points that proved detrimental for the Cowgirls.
At 13 apiece in the first set, Eastern New Mexico University went on a 6-0 run and then another four point run to seal the fate of the first set.
Set two started worse for the Cowgirls as ENMU went on a 7-2 run. Highlands battled to within two points, but Eastern went on another tear. At 21-15, Highlands surged towards victory, but their momentum was not enough, as ENMU cinched the set by three.
As the third set progressed, Highlands battled harder than their rival. Eastern took a 16-13 lead but kills from Senior Middle Blocker
Dominique Bentonand Senior Opposite
Kelsey Groff brought the game to tied at 23. A service ace from Junior Defensive Specialist
Kristi Salazar sparked the surge to give the Cowgirls the third set 26-24.
Highlands controlled the fourth set the entire way, not having a lead change at all. Kills from Olaechea, Tuttle and Sophomore Middle Blocker
Jazmine Harge all helped Highlands push towards the 25-22 victory.
The dreaded fifth set provided to be more of a mental hurdle for the Cowgirls. Highlands started slowly as the Zias went on a 4-1 streak until a kill from Freshman Middle Blocker
Hope Lujan started a comeback. At 7-8, a kill from Junior Outside Hitter
Ashley Nugent put Highlands into a flurry of points, giving them the lead and momentum.
The 'Girls were up 14-10. Three match points. Three chances to win. Eastern answered the challenge. Kristen Beck put up a pair of kills; a kill from Evelyn Escobar and a Highlands error tied the match. The teams traded points until Eastern took the final point at 20-18 on a Fahnestock ball handling error.
View the Complete Stats
HERE.
Highlands is back in action on 11/4 against Western State College of Colorado at 7:00 p.m.
GO COWGIRLS!!!
