PORTALES, NEW MEXICO – The Texas A&M-Kingsville volleyball team dropped a four set decision at Lone Star Conference rival Eastern New Mexico on Thursday night 27-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-23. (box score)

The Javelinas (9-11, 4-5) suffered a tough defeat to the Zias (12-11, 4-5) losing the first and fourth sets by two points apiece. The first set went back and forth with the Hoggies jumping out to a 4-1 lead before being outscored 9-2. The Zias held a 15-13 lead when the Javs scored six straight points, but ENMU responded by scoring six of the next seven points. The Javelinas eventually took at 25-24 lead on a kill by Bethany Friesenhahn (Poth/Poth HS), but the Zias scored the final three points of the set.

The Zias controlled the second set, before the Javelinas responded by easily taking the third set.
In the fourth set, the Zias jumped out to a big early lead and still led 20-11 before the Hoggies made a valiant comeback. They scored 12 of the next 16 points to pull to within 24-23 before Kristen Beck ended the match with a kill for Eastern New Mexico.

The Javelinas struggled on the attack with a .109 attack percentage for the match. Lauryn Lozano (San Antonio/Smithson Valley HS) led the team with 15 kills and a .257 attack while adding six digs. Friesenhahn and Amanda Waclawczyk (Poth/Poth HS) combined for 21 kills while Laura Macek (Wilson, KS/Ellsworth HS) added six kills and a team high six blocks.

On defense, Virginia Hernandez (Katy/Katy HS) led the team with 25 digs while Amanda Yeager (Brenham/Brenham HS) added 11 digs and a career high 37 assists.

The Zias had three players with at least 12 kills. Beck led the team with 14 kills while Jessica King had 12 kills and a .290 attack. Amber Durand posted a double-double with 12 kills and 21 digs. Dallas Russell led the team with 24 digs while Stacey Main had five blocks. Veronica Valdez-Kent had 50 assists, 16 digs and five blocks.

The Javelinas are back in action on Saturday at West Texas A&M.
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