SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Cameron volleyball team came out firing at Western New Mexico on Thursday night but were unable to close out their first Lone Star Conference win, falling in four sets. 
 
The Aggies made the long trip west to Silver City, N.M. on Thursday to face the Mustangs, as both teams were looking to snap long losing skids. Cameron was also searching for their first league win of the year, but after winning set one, CU's efforts faded late as WNMU came alive in the final three.
 
Despite the loss, Cameron bested the hometown Mustangs on the attack and on the block, hitting .185 with 45 kills and blocking 11 total balls as a team. However, WNMU was able to get nine points at the service line, which fueled their comeback. 
 
Arianna Navarrete had a strong all-around game for the Aggies, totaling 17 points with 13 kills, five blocks, and nine digs. Both Jacee Stelter and Natalia Araujo chipped in 9.5 points while Jessica Lipkit tied Navarrete with a team-best five blocks. 
 
Veteran setter Desiree Marmolejo led CU with 22 assists with seven digs while Kendall Kilchrist added 15 assists, an ace, and seven digs in her return to the Cameron rotation. Presley Shearin led CU with 16 digs and Bergen Campbell added 13 to go along with her six kills. 
 
Cameron used a 6-1 run midway through the first set to take a three-point lead and then stretched it to five just a few plays later. The Mustangs were able to get back to within two at 20-18, but the Black and Gold scored five of the last seven points to take the set 25-20. 
 
The Aggies again led late in the second frame, taking a 19-11 advantage on a WNMU error. The Mustangs were able to compete the comeback this time, using a 7-1 stretch to get to within two and then scoring four straight to take a 22-21 lead. CU answered to tie the set on a Stelter kill, but Western scored three of the final four points to tie the match with a 25-23 win. 
 
In the third, the Aggies led early, but after battling back and forth, the Mustangs used a three-point run to take a 20-17 lead. They held Cameron to single points the rest of the way until back-to-back kills by Araujo cut the deficit to 24-22, but a bad set by CU on the next play ended the frame.
 
Cameron looked to be on the verge of forcing a fifth set, using a 7-0 stretch to comeback from an early deficit and take a 17-13 lead. The Mustangs answered with a 7-1 run that put them back on top 20-18. After a CU timeout, kills by Araujo and Navarrete tied things at 20. WNMU then scored five straight capped by a pair of aces (they had five in the fourth set alone), to take the 25-20. and the match. 
 
The Aggies' 18th straight loss drops them to 1-19 on the season and 0-9 in Lone Star Conference play. They continue to search for that elusive first league win on Saturday, Oct. 16, as they visit UT Permian Basin in