SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team moved into a three-way tie for first place in the RMAC West Division following a straight-set victory over New Mexico Highlands (25-21, 25-21, 25-19) Monday night at Drag's Court.


NMHU (10-15, 4-10 RMAC) took control early in the first set, opening an 8-4 lead.


WNMU (12-10, 8-6 RMAC) recovered and eventually came back to tie the match at ten, as a service error, a kill by Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) and an ace from Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) powered the Mustang comeback.


The Cowgirls remained pesky, keeping the set tied at 12 before the Mustangs reeled off the next three points.


A service error opened the door, as Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School) pounded a kill and then Malayzha Dinkins (Corona, CA/Santiago High School) and Rux combined on a block for the 15-12 WNMU lead which prompted a Cowgirl timeout.


NMHU would keep within three points, with the last coming at 22-19 when the Mustangs powered through to take the set.


Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) delivered a kill and after an error gave NMHU a point, Verhulsdonk came away with another kill and later closed the set with yet another kill to give WNMU the first set, 25-21.


The second set remained close early on, as with the teams tied at ten, WNMU began to take over.


Jordan Johnston (Boise, ID/Centennial High School) started to turn the momentum with a solo block and then after Pulu collected a kill, Verhulsdonk and Johnston combined for a kill and a 13-10 WNMU advantage.


NMHU would come back to tie the set at 16, but WNMU had yet another answer to keep the Cowgirls at bay.


A service error and bad set by NMHU led to an 18-16 lead for WNMU and a Cowgirl timeout.


Out of the timeout NMHU came back to tie the set at 19, but again the Mustangs came up big with Pulu adding a kill and another by Meihack for a 21-19 lead.


After NMHU tallied a point, the Mustangs called a timeout and would end up taking four of the last five points for the set.


The last three points belonged to WNMU, with Verhulsdonk tallying two kills and Dinkins the other for the 25-21 second set win.


In the final set, NMHU raced out to a 4-1 lead, but again WNMU had an answer, eventually coming back to tie the set at eight on a kill by Rux.


WNMU would take the lead for a good a few points later, as Verhulsdonk drilled another kill for a 12-11 lead.


Dinkins added a kill and then a service ace by Pulu made it 14-11 and a timeout for NMHU.


NMHU fought back to within three, 22-19, but that would be as close as they would get.


The Mustangs claimed the last three points behind a kill from Johnston and Pulu and then to finish the match, Dinkins and Johnston combined on a block for the 25-19 set win.


WNMU posted 49 kills to 17 errors in 120 total attempts (.267).


Pulu and Verhulsdonk landed in double-digit in kills, as Pulu collected 15 to 12 for Verhulsdonk. Meihack dished out 40 of the 44 assists.


WNMU also dug out 54 digs, with Pulu and Marilee Frost (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) tying for the team lead with 12 apiece. Johnston also landed in double-figures with 10.


The Mustangs added eight team blocks, with Pulu and Johnston each coming away with solo blocks, while Johnston had five combined blocks to once again lead the team.


WNMU will return to action Tuesday night against Grand Canyon University with gametime set for 5 p.m. at Drag's Court.

 
                            Short Box Score (Match)
  New Mexico Highlands vs Western New Mexico (Oct 24, 2011 at Silver City, NM)
 
  Western New Mexico def. New Mexico Highlands 25-21,25-21,25-19
 
  New Mexico Highlands (10-15, 4-10 RMAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
  Dominique Benton 12-0-3; Ashley Nugent 9-0-2; Darian Mullen 9-0-1;
  Kelsey Groff 4-0-2; Jazmine Harge 4-0-2; Brooke Fahnestock 1-1-1;
  Sheila Olaechea 0-1-0; Totals 39-2-6.0. (Assists) - Brooke Fahnestock
  29. (Dig leaders) - Sheila Olaechea 17; Kelsey Groff 11
 
  Western New Mexico (12-10, 8-6 RMAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Angelina
  Pulu 15-1-1; Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) 12-1-3; Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School) 7-0-2; Malayzha
  Dinkins 6-0-2; Jordan Johnston (Boise, ID/Centennial High School) 6-1-5; Alyssa Melhack 2-1-1; Sarah
  Koster 1-0-0; Totals 49-4-8.0. (Assists) - Alyssa Melhack 40. (Dig
  leaders) - Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) 12; Marilee Frost (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) 12; Jordan Johnston (Boise, ID/Centennial High School) 10
 
  Site: Silver City, NM (Drag's Court)
  Date: Oct 24, 2011   Attend: 435   Time: 1:12