SILVER CITY, N.M. – Needing a victory to keep hopes alive of winning the RMAC West Division, the Western New Mexico University volleyball team played like it sweeping past Adams State, 3-0 (25-21, 25-19, 25-15) Saturday night inside Drag's Court.


WNMU (11-10, 7-6 RMAC) fought through a few early struggles in the opening set before coming back a vengeance.


ASC (14-8, 8-6 RMAC) opened a 5-2 lead and still led 8-5 before the Mustangs reeled off the next four points with Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School) starting the rally with a kill from Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School).


A bad set gave WNMU the next point and then a kill again from Rux and an attack error by Deprece Washington helped move the Mustangs in front, 9-8.


The set remained tight throughout, with ASC ahead 18-17, WNMU made their move that would lead them to take the set.


A service error helped tie the set, which was followed by a double-block from Meihack and Jordan Johnston (Boise, ID/Centennial High School) to give the Mustangs a 19-18 lead and a lead they wouldn't relinquish.


Johnston added a kill on the next point, which Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) unleashed a thunderous kill on the next point for a 21-18 lead and a Grizzly timeout.


WNMU kept the momentum out of the timeout, with Johnston and Pulu combining on a block and then a service ace from Rux made it 23-18.


ASC would come back with a few points, but with it 24-21 WNMU sealed the set with a kill by Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) and a 25-21 first set victory.


The second set opened up strong for the Mustangs, as Johnston and Meihack delivered a block on the opening point, which Pulu added to that a kill for a 2-0 lead.


WNMU would build the lead to 8-4 after Johnston and Rux came away with kills.


ASC would get back to within two, 21-19, before the Mustangs would cruise to take the set.


Pulu started the four-point surge with a kill and after an attack error, Johnston and Pulu combined for another block to put WNMU at set point, 24-19. Verhulsdonk then sealed the set with a perfectly placed kill to the middle of the court for the 25-19 win and two set lead.


WNMU raced out to a 5-2 lead in the third set, as after the set was tied at two, Verhulsdonk and Johnston combined on a kill and that was followed by another double-block by Malayzha Dinkins (Corona, CA/Santiago High School) and Johnston for a 4-2 lead. An attack error by Washington led to a three-point advantage, 5-2.


ASC would get to within three, 10-7, and that would be as close as they would get in the final set.


A service error helped open the door for three more WNMU points, as Rux posted an ace and then after an attack error, Meihack did a sneak-attack kill for a 14-7 lead.


WNMU would keep the lead comfortable, as after ASC collected two points to make it 23-15, Rux and Pulu posted kills to take the set, 25-15, and the match, 3-0.


WNMU hit the lights out, posting a .388 hitting percentage, coming away with 41 kills and just eight errors in 85 total attacks.


Verhulsdonk led the way with 11 kills, while Pulu and Rux added 10 each. Pulu also led the team in digs with 15.


Meihack added two kills and 31 assists, while the team came away with 10 blocks to zero for the Grizzlies.


Johnston had seven block assists to lead the team, while Verhulsdonk added four, Rux with three, while Pulu, Meihack and Dinkins all had two apiece.


With the win, WNMU is just a half-game behind ASC for first-place in the West Division, while they are tied with CSU-Pueblo for second.


WNMU will host New Mexico Highlands Monday night beginning at 5 p.m. at Drag's Court.


 
  Adams State College vs Western New Mexico (Oct 22, 2011 at Silver City, NM)
 
  Western New Mexico def. Adams State College 25-21,25-19,25-15
 
  Adams State College (14-8, 8-6 RMAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Letisha
  Spencer 8-0-0; Deprece Washington 8-0-0; Mikaela Hoelsken 7-0-0;
  Dominique Davis 6-0-0; Megan Tapia 4-0-0; Crissy Skokan 2-0-0;
  Gabriella Rifilato 1-1-0; Kelsey Huckle 0-1-0; Totals 36-2-0.0.
  (Assists) - Gabriella Rifilato 34. (Dig leaders) - AJ Palmer 11;
  Gabriella Rifilato 5
 
  Western New Mexico (11-10, 7-6 RMAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Ziona
  Verhulsdonk 11-0-4; Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School) 10-2-3; Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) 10-0-2; Jordan
  Johnston 7-0-7; Alyssa Melhack 2-0-2; Malayzha Dinkins (Corona, CA/Santiago High School) 1-0-2; Marilee
  Frost 0-1-0; Totals 41-3-10.0. (Assists) - Alyssa Melhack 31. (Dig
  leaders) - Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) 15; Marilee Frost (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) 9
 
  Site: Silver City, NM (Drag's Court)
  Date: Oct 22, 2011   Attend: 678   Time: 1:12