PUEBLO, Colo. – Heading into the final six games of the regular season, the Western New Mexico University volleyball team inched closer to clinching an RMAC Tournament berth thanks to a 3-1 victory (25-20, 25-19, 25-27, 25-20) over CSU-Pueblo Friday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


Western New Mexico University (WNMU) jumped out early in the opening set with an 8-3 lead behind back-to-back kills from Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) and then Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School). CSU-Pueblo (CSU-P) reeled off the next four points to get within one, but again WNMU (12-12, 9-5 RMAC) would answer back with three points to push the lead back to 11-7. CSU-P (13-13, 4-11 RMAC) would get as close as 18-17 when the Lady Mustangs began to pull away for good. Rux posted a kill and then combined with Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) for a block to make it 20-17 forcing a CSU-P timeout. WNMU would continue with the pressure, closing out the set on a 5-3 run with an attack error giving the Lady Mustangs the 25-20 first set win.


The second set belonged to the ThunderWolves early on thanks to a 6-2 start. Trailing 7-3, WNMU went on a 6-0 run with Verhulsdonk tallying two kills and Seluia “Ria” Falealili a kill of her own during the run for a 9-7 lead. Following a tie at 12, the Lady Mustangs posted another impressive run, this time a 5-0 variety benefiting from four ThunderWolves' errors for a 17-12 lead. WNMU would hold the lead the rest of the way with Pulu closing the set with a kill for a 25-19 win and 2-0 match lead.


WNMU looked to close things out in three, but CSU-P had other ideas. Just like the second set, CSU-P held the early 4-1 advantage. The lead would get to 12-8 when WNMU began to make their way back into the set.  Falealili posted a pair of kills and assisted on a block with Lauren Buseman (Eagar, AZ/Round Valley) to leave it a 12-11 lead. The ThunderWolves then appeared ready to run away with the set moving out to an 18-13 lead. The Lady Mustangs responded with a 8-1 run to take a 21-19 lead with Rux tallying two kills and one from Pulu. WNMU moved within two points of the set at 23-21 on a service ace by Pulu and then to set point at 24-22 on a kill by Verhulsdonk. CSU-P came back with two points, one on a block and the other a kill to tie things at 24. WNMU again moved within a point with a kill by Pulu for a 25-24 lead, but the ThunderWolves would post the next three points, two via blocks to take the third set, 27-25.


It remained close early on in the fourth set with neither team opening up a lead of more than two points. WNMU finally broke open a lead of more than two points, as already ahead 15-14, an attack error and then service ace from Verhulsdonk gave the Lady Mustangs a three-point lead, 17-14. CSU-P would come back to tie the set at 18 and then WNMU would push through with one final run. Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) started the run with a kill, which Buseman followed with a kill and then one by Pulu stretched the lead to three when Keirsa Pakani-Tsukiyama (Hilo, HI/Waiakea) posted a service ace for a 22-18 lead. The ThunderWolves would get as close as three, 23-20, when WNMU took care of the set behind kills from Buseman and Verhulsdonk to take the set, 25-20, and the match, 3-1.


Pulu posted a monster game leading the team in kills (25) and digs (29), as she recorded a .242 hitting percentage. Rux, Falealili and Verhulsdonk were all tied for second in kills with 11 each. Meihack dished out 51 assists and 17 digs, good for second on the night. Destiney Mebane (Upland, CA/Etiwanda High School) also dug out 14 for third on the squad. WNMU tallied six team blocks, with Rux tallying four block-assists.


WNMU is now tied with Metro State for sixth in the conference standings as the top-eight teams make the conference tournament.


WNMU will conclude the road trip with a match at New Mexico Highlands Saturday night beginning at 7 p.m.

 
  Western New Mexico def. CSU-Pueblo 25-20,25-19,25-27,25-20
 
  Western New Mexico (12-12 (9-5 RMAC)) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Angelina
  Pulu 25-1-1; Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School) 11-0-4; Seluia Falealili 11-0-2; Ziona
  Verhulsdonk 11-1-3; Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) 4-0-0; Lauren Buseman (Eagar, AZ/Round Valley) 3-0-2; Keirsa
  Pakani-Tsukiy 0-1-0; Totals 65-3-6.0. (Assists) - Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) 51.
  (Dig leaders) - Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) 29; Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) 17; Destiney Mebane (Upland, CA/Etiwanda High School)
  14; Kassie Kagawa (Hilo, HI/Waiakea High School) 14
 
  CSU-Pueblo (13-13 (4-11 RMAC)) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Marissa Calvillo
  14-0-0; Angela McAdams 12-0-3; Sierra Moran 9-0-2; Brianna Bryant
  3-0-8; Morgan Wilkening 3-0-4; Kacy Griffin 2-0-5; Totals 43-0-12.0.
  (Assists) - Kacy Griffin 24; Jordan Bruere 12. (Dig leaders) - Alex
  Sansavera 17; Kacy Griffin 15; Aubrey Urban 10; Michelle Lambayan 10;
  Jordan Bruere 8
 
  Site: Pueblo, CO (Massari Arena)
  Date: Oct 26, 2012   Attend: 217   Time: 1:50   
  Referees: Carl Higbee, Greg Clark