SILVER CITY, N.M. -- Sophomore
Kimora Carter had a career-high nine kills and hit .643 on Friday night at Drags Court, while freshman
Allie Hesselgesser had a career-high 37 assists for Midwestern State. The MSU Mustangs had three players with double-digit kills but were unable to overcome a sluggish start in a 14-25, 18-25, 25-20, 27-29 loss at Western New Mexico.
Junior outside hitter
Riley Rabedeaux had 13 kills and hit .323 for the Mustangs, who finished with a .254 attack percentage.
Arrianna Fields terminated 11 points, and freshman
Isabella Dickens finished the match with 12 points, including 10 kills and a solo block.
Jazmyne Walker collected a match high 22 kills and hit .310 during the match for WNMU. Naomi Kimble had 12 kills on 21 swings — without an attack error — to hit .571 for the Western Mustangs.
WNMU has now won two of its last three matches and improved to 2-9 in the LSC with a 6-17 overall record, including two wins over MSU.
Midwestern State has lost six consecutive matches since its 3-0 win over Eastern New Mexico. The Mustangs are 1-11 in the LSC and 4-20 overall this season.
After dropping the first two sets, Fields jumpstarted MSU with four kills in the first 18 points of the third set, and Midwestern State took an 11-7 lead. MSU had 10 kills on its first 12 swings without an attack error in the set and led 15-11. Dickens, Rabedeaux and Carter had kills during a five-point run that extended the MSU Mustangs lead to 20-13.
WNMU threatened to end the match with a five-point run that narrowed the deficit to two points, but Midwestern State responded. Hesselgesser assisted on four consecutive kills — three by Rabedeaux —and MSU got to set point with a 24-18 lead. An attack error by Janey Cortez ended the set as Midwestern State prevailed, 25-20. MSU hit .452 in the set with 17 kills on 31 swings and only three attack errors.
The MSU Mustangs scored the first three points of the fourth set, but WNMU tied the set for the first time, 5-5. There would be 10 ties and five lead changes in the set. Midwestern State held a three-point lead at 21-18, but WNMU won four of the next five points to tie the set, 22-22.
Midwestern State staved off three match points before getting a set point at 27-26. Jazmyne Walker put away her 22nd kill of the match to extend the set for WNMU. Logan Dodge delivered the 11th service ace for the Western Mustangs, and Carley Deck closed the match with her second block for WNMU in a 29-27 triumph.
Western New Mexico hit .500 in the opening set and won five of six points on its way to a 10-5 lead. Jessica Salas had two service aces during the run for WNMU.
Lauryn Bourne had a kill and an ace as MSU drew to within two points with a 3-0 run. Arianna Fields had back-to-back kills but Midwestern State trailed 14-12. WNMU won 11 of the final 13 points to post a 25-14 victory. The Western Mustangs served eight aces in the first set.
Midwestern State fell behind in the second set 11-3 but mounted a comeback. Bourne delivered a service ace and Fields had back-to-back kills during a four-point run for MSU. Trailing 17-12, Rabedeaux sparked another four-point run with a kill, assisted by Hesselgesser. Dickens also had a kill in the run for MSU. Once again, WNMU dominated at the end of the set. Maria Osorio won the last point with an ace for WNMU, which claimed eight of the last 10 points to win the second set, 25-18.
Bourne had eight kills, nine digs and three aces during the match.
Taygon Jones led MSU with 16 digs.
Midwestern State returns home Friday night to begin its final homestand of the season against Texas A&M –Kingsville. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
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--MSUMustangs.com--
