Aggies fall to Western New Mexico in four

MATCH BOXSCORE >>

     LAWTON, Okla. (Sept. 12) - Western New Mexico posted 15 total team blocks and limited Cameron to an .081 hitting percentage, turning back the Aggies in four sets Friday in opening-day action at the Cameron Coca-Cola Classic. Coach Kim Vinson's Aggies won the first set, then dropped three straight, falling to 5-5 on the season.
     Western New Mexico won by scores of 26-30, 30-27, 30-18, 30-24, to improve to 7-5.
     Despite a solid defensive effort in the early portion of the contest, Cameron struggled offensively throughout the match. The Aggies squeaked out the opening-set win thanks to three blocks and several WNMU miscues, but posted 12 attack errors in the frame, including four blocks by Western New Mexico.
     In all, Cameron tallied 41 hitting errors, three block errors and nine service errors in the match. WNMU fared only slightly better, but rode the back of freshman middle blocker Elizabeth Narkon's match-high 24 kills and .388 hitting percentage to earn the victory.
     After coming up just short of taking a 2-0 match lead in the second set, the tide began to turn. Western New Mexico dominated the third set to take a 2-1 lead in the match. Narkon recorded 11 of WNMU's 17 kills in the set and had no errors for an attack percentage of .579 in the frame.
     Cameron threatened to force a fifth set, leading 14-9 midway through the fourth. But the Mustangs stampeded to a 15-5 run and traded points from there to close out the match.
     Senior Kelsey Kosick led the Aggies with 22 kills on 61 attempts with 12 errors. Morgan Meyer added 12 kills and freshman setter Vicki Ibarra recorded 46 assists. Junior libero Jenny Head led Cameron's back-row effort with a match-high 20 digs and junior middle blocker Nicole Reinhart a season-high six blocks.
     Cameron will look to get back in the win column on Saturday. The Aggies are scheduled to take on conference rival Tarleton State at 3 p.m., as the 2003 Cameron Aggies Coca-Cola Classic continues. Tarleton State, which enters the weekend with a record of 4-5, will face Western New Mexico earlier in the day at noon.