SILVER CITY, N.M. – Following a slow start in the opening set, the Western New Mexico University volleyball team then made quick work of New Mexico Highlands, defeating the Cowgirls in three sets (25-22, 25-20, 25-19) Tuesday night in quarterfinal round action of the RMAC Tournament.


With the win, the Mustangs advance to the semifinals of the tournament and will face Metro State, as the Roadrunners took out the Colorado School of Mines in three sets tonight, 25-20, 27-25, 25-14. In the other semifinal, Adams State will matchup with Nebraska-Kearney, as both teams also won in straight sets and with the Lopers winning, now 30-1 on the season, they will host the rest of the tournament this weekend.
WNMU (17-11) fell behind NMHU (12-19) 6-0 in the first set before calling a timeout.


Out of the timeout, the Mustangs settled down to take six of the next three points to get within three, 9-6, as Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) posted the only kill during the run, as The Cowgirls committed five errors.


Then, with the match 13-10 in favor of NMHU, the Mustangs went on a roll reeling off the next six points to open up a 16-13 advantage. During the stretch, Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) posted three kills, while Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School) added another kill before Marilee Frost (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) capped the run with a service ace forcing a Cowgirl timeout.


NMHU refused to go away, tying the match a couple of time over the next several points, with the last coming at 19-19.


WNMU took the next four points, started by a Cowgirl error and after Verhulsdonk ripped a kill, two more errors followed, including a double-block by Taylor Henderson (Pocatello, ID/Century High School) and Verhulsdonk to put WNMU two points away from the set, 23-19.


NMHU would get back within two, 24-22, before Verhulsdonk closed the set with authority on a big kill to the middle of the court for the 25-22 set win.


The teams went back-and-forth early in the second set, with the teams ending up tied at eight.


WNMU then took four of the next five points, started by a Rux kill, which Pulu added to that a pair of her own for a 12-9 lead and a Cowgirl timeout.


WNMU would control the rest of the set, with NMHU getting back to within four, 22-18, when the Mustangs pulled away for good.


After a service error put the Mustangs within two points of the set, Pulu thundered two huge kills that were un-returnable to give WNMU the set, 25-20.


The Mustangs started the third set strong, with Pulu tallying two kills to open up a 2-0 lead.


The lead would reach five, 8-3, on a solo block by Rux.


The Cowgirls fought back to tie the set at 14 and again at 15.


A service error by NMHU then opened the door, as an attack error followed to put the Mustangs in front, 17-15.


NMHU would trim the deficit back to two, 20-18, but WNMU kept the pressure coming with Pulu posting a kill and a service ace to make it a 22-18 lead.


Jordan Johnston (Boise, ID/Centennial High School) and Verhulsdonk added a double-block on the next point to put WNMU within two of the match.


After errors by both teams, Johnston drilled a kill right down the middle to seal the set and the match, 25-19.


The Mustangs had 41 kills to 33 for the Cowgirls, as Pulu led the way with 18, to just three errors in 36 total attacks (.417). She was also second on the team in digs with 13. Frost led all Mustangs with 16.
Rux also found her way to double-digit kills with 10, while she also had five digs and two solo blocks. Johnston had three blocks, one solo, while Verhulsdonk had three, all assists.


Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) accounted for 35 of the 37 team assists.


The Mustangs will now prepare for Metro State, as WNMU defeated the Roadrunners in five sets earlier this season in Silver City (25-19, 25-19, 17-25, 20-25, 15-11).


Metro was ranked seventh in the nation at the time of that game and currently holds the No. 11 ranking in the nation in the latest rankings that were released this week.


WNMU and Metro State will play the first game in Kearney this Friday beginning at 5 p.m. (CST), 4 p.m. (MST). Adams State and Nebraska-Kearney will follow at 7:30 (CST), 6:30 (MST). UNK defeated ASC in four sets earlier this season in Alamosa.


The championship game is set for 7 p.m. (CST) Saturday evening.