After winning the first set, the Seattle University volleyball team could not maintain the momentum, as New Mexico State defeated the Redhawks, 3-1 (24-26, 25-15, 25-14, 25-21) Sunday afternoon in a Western Athletic Conference match at the Pan American Center.
The match started with Seattle U scoring three of the first four points, with Stephanie Stoll (Bellevue, Wash.) notching two blocks right away. New Mexico State went on a 5-1 run to pull ahead, 11-10, but the Redhawks responded with five straight points as Alec Goodrie (Springfield, Ore.) and Matea Mamic (Split, Croatia) collected two kills apiece. Down 22-18, the Aggies used two blocks by Desiree Scott and Stephanie Ziegler to pull into a 22-22 tie, but the Redhawks would eventually take the set thanks in part to kills by Mamic and Goodrie as well as a service ace from Lani Beadle (Seattle, Wash.).
New Mexico State (9-8, 4-0 WAC) recovered from losing three of the first four points of the second set, as Stoll once again collected two blocks early in the set. The Aggies went on a 10-4 scoring run that featured two kills and a solo block by Gwen Murphy. New Mexico State would close out the second set by outscoring Seattle U, 8-2, led by Murphy with two kills and a block assist and punctuated by a kill from Scott, tying the match at one set apiece.
The Aggies jumped on top in the third set, 7-3, and continually extended their advantage throughout the set. The Redhawks closed the gap back to within four at 13-9 on a kill by Stoll, but New Mexico State went on a 7-2 scoring run, led by Scott with three kills. The home team would score five of the final six points of the set, with Lauren Loerch and Bradley Nash earning two kills apiece down the stretch.
Seattle U scored the first three points of the fourth set on two blocks by Allison Farley (Happy Valley, Ore.) and a block and a kill from Kerry Lane (Tucson, Ariz.), but the Aggies came right back with the next four points. Down 9-8, New Mexico State scored four unanswered points to retake the lead, and then the Aggies held off a Redhawk rally when Aleisha Coates collected a kill and a service ace. New Mexico State would close out the set and the match with consecutive kills from Coates.
“We were able to pull out the first set, but then our offense disappeared in the next two sets. I am pleased with the way the players were able to refocus and battle in the fourth set until the final stretch,” Seattle U head coach James Finley said. “This was a good test for us against probably the best team in the conference right now, and it gives us some things to work on so that we can be more successful later in the season.”
Mamic led the Redhawks with her first career double-double, collecting 11 kills and 10 digs, while Goodrie earned seven kills and Iris Ivanis (Pozega, Croatia) also finished with seven kills plus eight digs. Stoll notched a career high with seven total blocks, Lane accumulated 35 assists and seven digs, and Beadle led Seattle U with 18 defensive digs and two service aces.
Nash led the Aggies with her own double-double of 13 kills and 11 digs, with Loerch contributing 12 kills and nine digs and Scott adding eight kills and five total blocks. Taylor Livoti also notched a double-double with 27 assists and 10 digs, and Jordan Reifsteck led the Aggie defense with 13 digs.
Seattle University (6-14, 3-2 WAC) begins a four-match homestand next Friday, Oct. 11, against Idaho starting at 7 p.m. at the Connolly Center. The Redhawks will also welcome Grand Canyon (Oct. 14), Chicago State (Oct. 17), and Kansas City (Oct. 19) to the Pacific Northwest during the stretch of home contests.