LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team made quick work of New Mexico Highlands Saturday night rolling to the 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-18) Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory.


The opening set was close, with Western New Mexico University (WNMU) grabbing their first lead at 10-9 following an attack error by New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU). The lead would reach four at 17-13 on a service error. NMHU (6-19, 2-13 RMAC) would get back to within one, 21-20, when WNMU (13-12, 10-5 RMAC) scored four of the next six points to take the set with Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) tallying a kill and a pair by Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy), including the set point for the 25-22 win.


The second set was also close early on with the teams tying all the way up to 13 when the Lady Mustangs ripped off a 6-0 run with a host of kills from Pulu, Seluia “Ria” Falealili, Verhulsdonk and the last from Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School) for the 19-13 advantage. WNMU would continue the momentum, holding a 23-17 lead, they would finish the set with a kill from Falealili and the final one from Pulu for the set win at 25-17, to take a 2-0 match lead.


The third set tilted more in the favor of the Lady Mustangs early on as they opened a 13-8 lead following an attack error. The lead would reach eight, 22-14, on another attack error and the Lady Mustangs would finish off the final three points needed for the win thanks to a double-block from Shelley Wermuth (San Diego, CA/Mt. Carmel) and Falealili, and kills from Pulu and Wermuth to take the set, 25-18, and the match, 3-0.


Pulu was the only Lady Mustang in double-digit kills with 14 to just four errors in 33 chances posting a .303 hitting percentage. She also once again led the team in digs with 13 and also added two blocks, one solo. Verhulsdonk and Falealili added eight kills apiece. Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) once again led the team in assists with 30. Lauren Buseman (Eagar, AZ/Round Valley) and Falealili each tallied two solo blocks to lead the way.


The win moves WNMU into a three-way tie for fifth along with Metro State and University of Colorado-Colorado Springs. The top four teams host the quarterfinal round with Colorado Christian at 11-4 holding the fourth spot. WNMU is also three wins clear of eighth-place Colorado Mesa (7-8). WNMU nearly clinched a tournament spot, as Fort Lewis held on to beat Western State in five to improve to 6-9 in conference.


WNMU will host Colorado Mesa on Friday inside Drag's Court beginning at 7 p.m.

 
  Western New Mexico def. New Mexico Highlands 25-22,25-17,25-18
 
  Western New Mexico (13-12 (10-5 RMAC)) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Angelina
  Pulu 14-0-3; Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) 8-0-0; Seluia Falealili 8-0-3; Heather
  Rux 6-0-1; Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) 2-1-1; Shelley Wermuth (San Diego, CA/Mt. Carmel) 1-0-1; Destiney
  Mebane 1-0-0; Reyna Acosta (Pearl City, HI/Pearl City) 0-1-0; Lauren Buseman (Eagar, AZ/Round Valley) 0-0-4; Totals
  40-2-9.0. (Assists) - Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) 30. (Dig leaders) - Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School)
  13; Destiney Mebane (Upland, CA/Etiwanda High School) 6
 
  New Mexico Highlands (6-19 (2-13 RMAC)) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Dairan
  Mullen 17-0-1; Mariah White 3-0-2; Andrea Nunez 3-0-1; Elizabeth Gomez
  2-0-1; Sarah Dirmeyer 2-0-2; Stephanie Wilson 2-0-2; Quiana Vigil
  1-0-1; Jordyn Glorfield 1-0-2; Ashley Nugent 1-1-2; Katie Saveedra
  0-1-0; Totals 32-2-10.0. (Assists) - Quiana Vigil 26. (Dig leaders) -
  Katie Saveedra 13; Dairan Mullen 7
 
  Site: Las Vegas, N.M. (Wilson Complex)
  Date: Oct 27, 2012   Attend: 79   Time: 1hr20min
  Referees: Jim Farmer, Yancy Montoya