Mavericks Split at West Texas A&M - Lady Buff Classic
(Fall to #14 West Texas A&M, Pittsburg State)
(Beat Incarnate Word, Panhandle State)

Mesa State volleyball team opened the 2007 season in Canyon, Texas at the West Texas A&M Lady Buff Classic. MSC went 2-2 in the weekend tournament dropping both matches Friday and sweeping Saturday's action.

MSC fell to Pittsburg State and #14 ranked West Texas A&M 0-3. Pittsburg State defeated the Mavs, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27. Friday night host West Texas A&M won 30-12, 33-31, 30-26. Despite the Lady Buffs finishing with just six more kills than MSC (49-43), the Maverick had 29 hitting errors while West Texas tallied just 14. West Texas hit .310 with 113 attempts and MSC hit .104 (134 total attacks).

Saturday the Mavericks defeated Incarnate Word and Panhandle State by the identical score of 3-1. Against Incarnate Word (30-28, 30-21, 27-30, 30-28) sophomore Alisan Tompkins led all players with 18 kills. Jessica Bird hit .292, adding 12 kills.

After dropping game one (29-31) to Panhandle State the Mavs went on to sweep the next three games, 30-10, 30-24, 30-22. MSC had two players with double digit kills, including Kristen Schnake's game high 15 kills. Bird added 10 kills in the victory.

RMAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Ashley Loftsgard, finished the weekend with 61 digs and 11 service aces.

MSC will travel to Golden, Colo., this weekend for the Days Inn/Denver West Oredigger Classic hosted by Colorado School Mines. MSC will play Merrimack College and Montana State Billings on Friday. The Mavs will follow that up with games Saturday afternoon against Ferris State and Concordia St. Paul.

---MAVS---