Zias make 3rd game interesting, fall to WT
By: Cory Munoz
Issue date: 11/4/08 Section: Sports
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Trailing West Texas A&M 20-11 in the third game, the Zias went on a 8-2 run before falling to the No. 6 Lady Buffalos 3-0 at Greyhound Arena.
The Zias received two kills from Veronica Valdez-Kent and Sarah Koch during this span, and got a bit of help from WT with three errors.
The comeback was cut short by an attack error from ENMU's Jessica King, but the Zias did put a dose of fear in WT coach Tony Graystone.
"We've been pretty streaky throughout the year … and allowed teams to make runs here and there," he said, "but (Eastern) took advantage of their opportunities with our ball-handling breaking down."
Graystone, who mentored ENMU coach Kim Falkenhagen while she was at WT, said the Zias have made some improvements throughout the season.
"Eastern is doing a better job and making progress," he said. "Kim and I go way back, and I'm really happy to see her getting things back on track."
The Lady Buffs (25-4 overall, 9-0 Lone Star Conference) dominated the younger Zias all night, but Falkenhagen sees the same improvement in her squad that Graystone has.
"Anytime you have a young program you hope (it's) making steps in the right direction," the second-year coach said. "I think we have made progress."
Senior middle blocker Megan Weitz missed most of the season with a right knee injury, but has comeback to give the Zias an extra-added leader on the court. Weitz also sees the maturity of the underclassmen coming through.
"I've learned you can't get too frustrated because they need … to be confident and step up," Weitz said. "A lot of freshmen have stepped up (this season) and I can say they have matured."
Junior libero Caitlin Murphy has also seen the emergence of the freshmen's roles with the team throughout an injury-plagued season.
"They've stepped up and played the way we've needed them to," she said. "It's always frustrating when you lose, but we have to come out and not think about who's on the other side (of the court)."