Durand Has 10 Kills in Loss to Regionally-Ranked Rambelles

SAN ANGELO, TEXAS — Sophomore outside hitter Amber Durand (Onalaska, Wash./Onalaska HS/Columbia Basin College) paced the Eastern New Mexico University volleyball team (13-15; LSC 4-9) with 10 kills, three blocks and six digs, but the Zias dropped a 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, 29-27) decision to Angelo State (17-10; LSC 12-1) Thursday evening in San Angelo, Texas.  Angelo State entered the contest ranked 10th in the lasted NCAA Division II South Central Regional poll.

Eastern held a 3-2 lead in the opening set, before ASU took the lead for good on a kill followed by a service ace from Kayla Smith. The Rambelles pulled away from the point for a 25-12 win. The Rambelles retained the momentum in the second set, charging to a 10-3 lead, before a kill from Kristen Beck (Jr., MB, Odessa, Texas/Odessa HS/Midland College) ignited a 7-2 Zia run, trimming the deficit to 12-10. The teams traded points down the stretch, with ASU taking control with the score 17-14 in their favor, scoring five of the next seven points before closing out the set and taking a 2-0 lead into the intermission.

Coming out of the locker room, Eastern seized the momentum, as the third set opened with a Rambelle service error, followed by kills from Beck and Stacey Main (Jr., OH, Alturas, Calif./Moaoc HS, Feather River College). The Zias built an 11-4 lead, before Angelo State used a 9-3 run to trim the ENMU lead to 14-13 on a bad set. The teams exchanged points until ASU finally tied the set at 21-all. From that point, the teams played to six tie scores, the final coming at 27-all, before two Zia attack errors allowed ASU to take the 29-27 win.

Jessica King (Jr., MB, Las Cruces, N.M./Oñate HS) finished with eight kills, a service and a block, while Veronica Valdez-Kent (Sr., S, Canyon, Texas/Canyon HS) had 28 assists and five digs. Dallas Russell (So., L, Portales, N.M./Portales HS) chipped in 14 digs, while Main added two blocks. Kaelen Valdez led Angelo State with 13 kills and 12 digs.

The Eastern New Mexico University volleyball team will conclude their season on Saturday at 20th-ranked Abilene Christian. The match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. MST.