CANYON, Texas -- Midwestern State blitzed No. 9 West Texas A&M with a decisive opening set victory before the Lady Buffs rallied to take a 17-25, 25-15, 25-15, 25-11 Lone Star Conference Friday night at the WTAMU Fieldhouse.
 
The loss snapped a three-match winning streak for MSU which fell to 10-8 on the season and to 2-7 in Lone Star Conference play.
 
The Mustangs complete the road swing Saturday afternoon at Eastern New Mexico (3 p.m.) before returning home to face Dallas Baptist Tuesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
 
MSU came out firing on all cylinders as senior Beatriz Villalba and sophomore Nicole Marzik blasted four kills each as the Mustangs hit a robust .500 as a team with 17 kills and two errors in 30 attack to take a 25-17 decision.
 
West Texas A&M turned up the defensive intensity for the remainder of the match frustrating the Mustangs into a .000 team hitting percentage over the final three frames with 22 kills and 22 errors.
 
WT outside hitter Halie Harton erupted for a match-high 20 kills and 15 digs while middle blocker Laura Iwuchukwu put down 11 kills of her own to pace the Lady Buffs, who finished with a .248 team hitting percentage.
 
Marzik paced the Mustangs' balanced attack with nine kills, while senior Marija Jovanovic added eight kills and four blocks. Villalba closed the match with seven kills, while senior middle blocker Caitlin Wallace notched six kills and four total blocks.
 
Junior libero Casey Fletcher paced the back row effort with 18 digs.