Oct. 30, 2007

Box Score

CANYON, Texas - Led by the third straight and 16th overall double-double performace by sophomore setter Katie Rickwartz, the No. 14 West Texas A&M volleyball team delivered its ninth consecutive victory Tuesday night in front of 476 fans at "The Box" by downing Wayland Baptist in straight games (30-21, 30-26 and 30-15).

Rickwartz tossed up a game-high 32 assists to pace the Lady Buff offense, despite giving way to back-up Teresa Dunn late in both games two and three. Under Rickwartz's direction, the WT offense collected an impressive .292 team hitting percentage, led by freshmen Cherilyn McMenamy and Jamie Lakatos, who tallied a game-high 11 kills apiece. McMenamy was also solid at the net as she produced a game-high six blocks for the Lady Buffs, who tallied eight blocks as a team.

Both McMenamy and Lakatos were a big part of the Lady Buffs' opening game as they each contributed four kills in the 30-21 win. WT got off to a hot start and raced out to a 5-0 lead behind kills from Natalie Johnson and Laura Prinsen combined with a trio of errors by the Pioneers. Wayland Baptist did not fold, however, as it fought its way back to tie the game at 10-10 and again at 11-11. The Lady Buffs reasserted control from that point on by winning six of the next seven points, two on kills from McMenamy, to cruise to the opening game victory.

In game two, it was another young member of the squad who made a difference, as WT's Jessica Tuttle started the game after sitting out the opening period. The Mesquite, Texas, native came through with all of her six kills during the second game as the Lady Buffs never trailed in the frame and allowed the score to be tied only twice, at 5-5 and 13-13. The Pioneers made things interesting late in the stanza after following behind 27-20, winning six of the next eight points, before a kill by Tuttle secured the game for the Lady Buffs, 30-26.

West Texas A&M was able to extert its will in game three as the Lady Buffs delivered 15 kills on 28 total attacks with only two errors to produce a .464 hitting percentage and run away with game three, 30-15. Freshman Lauren Thedford stood out in the final game, collecting five kills and a solo block.

The victory improves the Lady Buffs' overall record this season to 28-7, while Wayland Baptist falls to 19-14 on the year. The Pioneers were frustrated by a solid defesnive effort by the Lady Buffs on Tuesday night, ending play with a .107 team hitting percentage. Junior libero Sara Contreras led the charge for WT, collecting a game-high 11 digs.

West Texas A&M volleyball is back in action this Saturday as it rounds out the 2007 regular season with a home match against Southeastern Oklahoma. First serve is set for 2 p.m. from "The Box." The Southeastern Oklahoma match is not the last chance to catch the Lady Buffs at home, however, as WT wrapped up the Lone Star Conference regular season title last weekend and will host the LSC tournament at "The Box" on Nov. 8-10.