SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team fought off a valiant effort from Chadron State College Friday night coming away with the 3-1 (25-15, 21-25, 25-18, 25-13) victory in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


The opening set went the way of Western New Mexico University (WNMU), with the Lady Mustangs racing out to the early 9-5 lead. WNMU (9-11, 6-4 RMAC) would catch fire over the next several points pushing the lead to 16-7 on a kill by Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School). The Lady Mustangs continued with the pressure moving to set point on a kill by Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) and then taking the set a few points later on a kill from Destiney Mebane (Upland, CA/Etiwanda High School) to take the first, 25-15.


Chadron State College (CSC) responded in the second set, as they broke open a 7-all set to take a 13-7 lead forcing a WNMU timeout. WNMU came right back, trimming the deficit to one, 18-17, on an attack error. After getting within two, 23-21, late in the set, a kill and a double-block by CSC (3-15, 1-8 RMAC) gave them the final two points and the set at 25-21 to even the match at one.


The third set was close early on, with it being tied at nine when a 8-1 run opened things up for the Lady Mustangs, as Rux, Seluia “Ria” Falealili and Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) rolled off kills during the stretch to give WNMU a 17-10 lead. The Eagles would get back to within three, 17-14, but that would be as close as they would get. WNMU posted the final two points, one on an attack error and the other a double-block from Rux and Falealili to take the set, 25-18, and the 2-1 match lead.


WNMU rode the momentum into the fourth set, opening with a 10-4 lead with Rux posting the last kill of the run leading to an Eagle timeout. Out of the break,  CSC would get back to within three, 11-8, but WNMU had an answer getting a pair of kills from Pulu around an attack error to extend the lead back to six, 14-8. In a pattern throughout the set, the Eagles would again get back to within three, 14-11, and the Lady Mustangs would answer. This time, their answer put the match away ripping off an 11-2 run down the stretch to close the set, 25-13. Finishing the match off, Verhulsdonk drilled a winner right in the middle of the court to give WNMU the 3-1 match victory.


WNMU hit .232, collecting 57 kills to 21 errors on 155 total attempts. They held CSC to a .087 hitting percentage, with 42 kills to 28 errors on 160 total chances. Pulu, Verhulsdonk and Rux all had double-digit kills with Pulu leading the way with 16, Verhulsdonk with 14 and 12 from Rux. Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) accounted for 51 of the 56 total assists, while Pulu led the team in digs with 19, followed by 17 from Mebane and 12 from Chyler Imai (Kapaau, HI/Kohala).


WNMU will turnaround quickly to face Black Hills State Saturday at 3 p.m. inside Drag's Court. Black Hills State defeated New Mexico Highlands Friday, 3-0.
 
 Western New Mexico def. Chadron State 25-15,21-25,25-18,25-13
 
  Chadron State (3-15, 1-8 RMAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Erika Roybal
  13-0-0; Mallory Irvine 11-0-6; Mollie Jones 7-0-1; Jessica Jester
  6-2-2; Lexi Hoagland 4-0-3; Kelcey Christian 1-0-4; Ashley Bargen
  0-1-0; Justine Ackie 0-1-0; Totals 42-4-8.0. (Assists) - Justine Ackie
  18; Alyssa Bauer 13. (Dig leaders) - Kristina Harter 23; Justine Ackie
  13; Alyssa Bauer 9; Mollie Jones 9
 
  Western New Mexico (9-11, 6-4 RMAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Angelina
  Pulu 16-1-3; Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) 14-0-0; Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School) 12-1-3; Destiney
  Mebane 5-0-1; Seluia Falealili 5-0-1; Lauren Buseman (Eagar, AZ/Round Valley) 2-0-2; Shelley
  Wermuth 2-0-1; Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) 1-0-1; Kassie Kagawa (Hilo, HI/Waiakea High School) 0-1-0; Totals
  57-3-8.0. (Assists) - Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) 51. (Dig leaders) - Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School)
  19; Destiney Mebane (Upland, CA/Etiwanda High School) 17; Chyler Imai (Kapaau, HI/Kohala) 12; Kassie Kagawa (Hilo, HI/Waiakea High School) 9; Reyna Acosta (Pearl City, HI/Pearl City)
  8
 
  Site: Silver City, NM (Drag's Court)
  Date: Oct 12, 2012   Attend: 205   Time: 1:35