SCHEDULE
9/5
New Mexico Highlands vs. Texas A&M Commerce STATS
Texas Woman's vs. New Mexico Highlands STATS
9/6
Truman State vs. New Mexico Highlands STATS
New Mexico Highlands vs. Eastern New Mexico STATS
CANYON, Texas – The 2014 edition of the New Mexico Highlands University volleyball team kicks off its 2014 season Friday (Sept. 5) when it travels to West Texas A&M for the Bitkare Lady Buff Classic. The Cowgirls will be looking for a "claim" of the Lonestar Conference "championship" as the face three opponent from the conference: Texas A&M Commerce, Texas Woman's and Eastern New Mexico.
The 2014 squad looks to improve upon its 12-17 (6-13 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) mark from last season, just coming up short of the conference tournament. In a vote of the conference coaches, Highlands was picked to finish 11th.
The Cowgirls return the services of senior libero
Jessica Piper, who finished third in the RMAC last season with 4.69 digs per set.
"Jessica will again this season be one of the top liberos in the conference," head coach
Bryan Crawford explained. "Her leadership qualities on and off the court are helping shape the culture of the program.
"Her drive to never let the ball hit the floor and never give up attitude have been infectious with the younger players and they are catching up to speed quickly," Crawford added.
Senior outside hitter
Alicia Moreno, who was unable to play a full slate in 2013, looks to be a difference maker for the Cowgirls this season.
"Alicia is fully healthy this season and just crushing it out on the court," Crawford said. "She started out last season very strong and suffered a knee injury that set her back in a pre-conference tournament last year. As a 2-time All-American in the JC rankings, she is playing just like she used to pre-injury.
"Alicia will be one to watch this year for sure," Crawford added.
Moreno played in 29 matches last season and was second on the team in both kills per set (2.82) and digs per set (2.32). She finished with double-digit kills in 16 matches and double-digit kills in 12 matches with 10 double-doubles.
Finally,
Andrea Nuñez returns to the team after a year absence. In 2013, she finished sixth on the team with 105 kills.
"This kid can fly," Crawford stated. "Dre only knows one speed….full speed! Her passion, energy, and leadership are proving to be invaluable this season as she gets the girls all "jacked up" on enthusiasm and team pride.
Finally, the volleyball team will feature many new faces for the season. The Cowgirls boast nine newcomers, as well as a new assistant coach in
Gi Taik Hong.
"We have several freshmen athletes this year that will see some quality court time. As they continue to develop, it won't take long, before some of this girls are top players in the conference. The freshman play with speed and fearlessness," said Crawford.
Scouting Texas A&M Commerce The Lions look to build upon their successful 2013 season in which they finished 23-9 overall and 9-7 in Lonestar Conference play.
Commerce took advantage of having four of the top-15 outside hitters in the LSC, each averaging more than 2.68 kills per set. They lose most of that group; however, they do return the player with the best numbers of that quartet in Amy Davault, who led the team and finished second in the conference with 3.43 kills per set last year. The Lions also took a hit by losing their conference-leading setter (Jordan Neal, 11.77 assists per set) and their libero (Michaela Spicer, 3.50 digs per set).
Texas A&M Commerce is selected to finish fourth in the LSC this season. The Lions and Cowgirls last met in 2012 - coach Crawford's first season - with the Lions taking the match in straight sets. Each frame, Highlands lost by three (25-22).
Scouting Texas Woman's For the second straight season, the TWU volleyball team was picked to finish third in the Lone Star Conference Volleyball Preseason Poll. The voting was conducted among the league's head coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives from throughout the region.
The Pioneers, who advanced to their 11th consecutive LSC tournament and third overall NCAA tournament last season, will return seven letterwinners this fall. TWU will be led by seniors Jaqueline Santos and Morgan Wilson and sophomore Mallory Kuechle. Wilson has been the team leader on defense for the past three seasons as the starting libero and was named 2013 All-Lone Star Conference Honorable Mention. Santos posted 188 kills and 88 total blocks in her first season with the Pioneers last season while Kuechle is TWU's top returning kills leaders (204) from a year ago.
Both teams last met in 2012. Texas Woman's took the first set by a tight 25-23 score and went on to win the last two sets 16 and 19.
Scouting Truman State Truman State is the odd opponent for New Mexico as the Bulldogs hail from the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
The Truman State University volleyball team was picked to win the GLVC West Division in the league's preseason coaches' poll. The Bulldogs earned a league-best 114 points and nine first-place votes to edge in-state rival Rockhurst (Mo.) to start the season as the West favorites.
Coming off a 23-12 (14-4) year in its first season in the GLVC, sixth-year head coach Ben Briney's Bulldog squad is set to return six starters that include senior outside hitter Allie Brak (started all 35 matches and had 3.78 kills per set), senior setter Meghan Zimmerman (35 starts, 10,67 assists per set), senior libero Abby Moser (4.37 digs per set), junior middle hitter Ali Patterson (second on the team with 2.48 and 1.05 blocks per set), junior opposite hitter Abby Heise (third on the team with 2.47 kills per set), and junior middle hitter Emilee Walters (third on the team, 0.92 blocks per set) for the 2014 campaign.
Scouting Eastern New Mexico The Zia's are coming off their first Lonestar Conference Tournament appearance since 2004 while finishing 8-20 overall in head coach Sia Poyer's first year in charge of the program. Eight players are back from last season including sophomore right side hitter Lauren Frye, who was named the conference's Freshman of the Year while pacing the team with 328 kills and 3.25 kills per set. Outside hitter and fellow classmate Courtney Lawson was second on the squad in kills (282), k/s (2.79) and digs (315). She will return from injury that kept her out of action last year.
Both middle blockers Agatha Gibbons and Bree Anna Lucero return after each nearly posted 100 block seasons in 2013. Gibbons finished with a team-high 97 rejections while Lucero added 94 blocks.
Eastern New Mexico and Highlands split in a home-and-home last season with each winning their home court. The Cowgirls won a five-set thriller in Las Vegas with the Zias winning in Portales in four sets.
The Zias are picked to finish eighth in the LSC.
Next Up Volleyball will make the trek to Oklahoma for a busy weekend in two different locations for the South Central volleyball classic next weekend. The Cowgirls begin the weekend against East Central next Thursday (Sept. 11) before staying in Ada to take on Missouri Southern and Texas A&M International the next day (Sept. 12). The Cowgirls conclude the weekend Saturday (Sept. 13) with two early matches against Southern Nazarene and Central Oklahoma.
