DENVER, Colo. – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team opened strong Thursday night, taking the first set, before Regis came back to take the next three and defeat the Mustangs, 3-1 (25-19, 14-25, 11-25, 19-25) in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


WNMU (10-8, 6-4 RMAC) started strong, as after falling behind in the opening set, 9-6, the Mustangs responded to come back and eventually tie the set at 14 all on a double block by Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) and Sarah Koster (Corona, CA/).


Regis (15-5, 7-3 RMAC) still held a 19-17 lead late in the first set, but WNMU came back with a kill by Jordan Johnston (Boise, ID/Centennial High School) and then a pair of aces from setter Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) gave the Mustangs a 20-19 lead forcing the Rangers to use a timeout.


The points kept coming for WNMU out of the timeout, with an attack error and a kill by Verhulsdonk made it 22-19 and prompted another Regis timeout.


The Mustangs continued to receive good serving from Meihack, as she served up two more aces, before Johnston closed the set with a kill to give WNMU a 25-19 first set win.


In the second set, Regis exploded for a 6-2 lead before WNMU came back to score the next two points on a kill by Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School) and a service ace by Johnston.


After Koster came away with a kill from Meihack to make it 9-6, Regis went on a tear, scoring the next five points to balloon the lead to 14-6.


Regis would control the rest of the set, as WNMU would get as close as seven twice, with the latter coming at 17-10 on a double block by Johnston and Malayzha Dinkins (Corona, CA/Santiago High School).


Regis would outscore the Mustangs, 8-4, down the stretch to take the set, 25-14.


The third set started out close, with the teams tied at five before Regis posted the next four points to open up a 9-5 advantage.
Following a kill by Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) to make it 9-6, Regis went on to tally the next four points for a 13-6 lead.


A kill by Koster on the next point would get WNMU to within six at 13-7 before Regis caught fire again on their way to a 25-11 set victory and a 2-1 match lead.


The fourth set would see three ties before either team reached 10 points, in which Regis took a 10-8 lead and reeled off the next four points for a 14-8 lead.


A bad set and an attack error would trim the lead to four, 14-10, and WNMU would keep the pressure on, getting to within three at 15-12 on an attack error.


WNMU would keep pushing, cutting the lead to two, 17-15, on a service ace by Marilee Frost (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) prompting a Regis timeout.


The deficit would remain at two, 19-17, and after a kill by Dinkins got WNMU back to within two again at 20-18, Regis controlled the rest, scoring the next four points on their way to a 25-19 set win and 3-1 match victory.


Johnston and Rux led the Mustangs in kills with eight apiece, while Meihack dished out 30 assists.


Meihack also had four aces and two digs.


Kassie Kagawa (Hilo, HI/Waiakea High School) dug out 12 to lead the team, while Pulu added 11 and Verhulsdonk with nine.


WNMU collected four team blocks, with Johnson assisting on three.


WNMU will return to action Friday night at Colorado Christian with gametime set for 7 p.m.

 
                            Short Box Score (Match)
      Western New Mexico vs Regis University (Oct 13, 2011 at Denver, CO)
 
  Regis University def. Western New Mexico 19-25,25-14,25-11,25-19
 
  Western New Mexico (10-8, 6-4 RMAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Jordan
  Johnston 8-1-3; Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School) 8-0-0; Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) 5-0-1; Angelina
  Pulu 4-0-1; Sarah Koster (Corona, CA/) 4-0-1; Marilee Frost (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) 2-2-0; Malayzha Dinkins (Corona, CA/Santiago High School)
  2-0-1; Taylor Henderson (Pocatello, ID/Century High School) 0-0-1; Alyssa Melhack 0-4-0; Totals 33-7-4.0.
  (Assists) - Alyssa Melhack 30. (Dig leaders) - Kassie Kagawa (Hilo, HI/Waiakea High School) 12;
  Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) 11; Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) 9
 
  Regis University (15-5, 7-3 RMAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Kyndell
  Highland 18-0-2; Gina Morgan 13-1-7; Caitlin McDonnell 10-0-0; Jessica
  Wojcik 7-1-0; Lyz Kann 4-0-3; Sage Martinson 3-0-6; Lauren Flanagan
  2-0-0; Aubrey Podschweit 0-1-0; Totals 57-3-11.0. (Assists) - Aubrey
  Podschweit 27; Sage Martinson 19. (Dig leaders) - Cassidee Young 15;
  Sage Martinson 12; Aubrey Podschweit 9
 
  Site: Denver, CO (Regis Fieldhouse)
  Date: Oct 13, 2011   Attend: 332   Time: 1:30   
  Referees: Don Pemberton, Pii Aiu