PORTALES, N.M.  – The No. 17-ranked Angelo State Belles volleyball team improved on its historic start this season, sweeping Eastern New Mexico, 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-13) Thursday. Angelo State is now 26-2 overall and 15-1 in the Lone Star Conference. The 15-conference wins is the most in program history, besting the 14-win mark in 1989.
 
"It is exciting, one of the things we talk about with this team is that we want to leave a legacy,” head coach Chuck Waddington said. “We want to make our mark and that is just one of the ways to do that so I'm proud of them for that.”
 
Angelo State also moved to 15-0 in three-set matches on the year and is currently on an eight-match winning streak.
 
The Belles were dominant on the defensive end, holding ENMU to a .073 hitting percentage and totaling 10 block-assists. ASU also contributed 50 digs in the game.
 
“We kind of had an answer for everything that they did,” Waddington said. “We dug a lot of balls and our defense was great tonight.”

Final Box
 
Junior setter Alex Woolsey had a double-double for Angelo State with 32 assists and 14 digs, while adding three kills. Senior Debbie Ohl and sophomore Kaelen Valdez each led the Belles with eight kills. Ohl added three block-assists, while Valdez contributed nine digs to their stat lines. Freshman Shelby Wilt had 11 digs along with two service aces.
 
The Belles' played 13 players tonight with 11 contributing with at least one kill. Junior defensive specialist Alexa Williams led Angelo State with three service aces.
 
“Everybody played and played well,” Waddington said. “There was no let down; everyone performed at a pretty high level whether they were starters or came in off the bench. Everyone came in and did their job, and I was really pleased tonight.”
 
Kristen Beck led the Zias with 10 kills. Amber Durand had 24 assists and Dallas Russell added 12 digs for Eastern New Mexico (5-21, 1-16 LSC).
 
Angelo State now travels to Canyon to square off against West Texas A&M on Oct. 29, this Saturday. The No. 12 Lady Buffs handed ASU its only home loss of the season on Sept. 24, 3-2, and come into the game in a virtual tie with the Belles in the conference standings. The match is set to begin at 2 p.m.
 
“This group has been looking forward to this match for a while,” Waddington said. “We've put ourselves in position for a conference championship, and we don't earn that goal unless we take care of business this weekend. It's another piece of the puzzle, but we still have to go after and take advantage of it.”