DENVER, Colo. – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team ended their three-game road swing in style with an impressive 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-20, 25-22) victory over Metro State in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Saturday night.
 
Metro State University of Denver (MSUD) opened the first set with a 10-7 lead and would retain the lead throughout the set, although Western New Mexico University (WNMU) would come back to within two, 20-18, on a kill by Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School). MSUD (10-6, 5-3 RMAC) would then close the set on a 5-2 run to take the set, 25-20.
 
WNMU (8-11, 5-4 RMAC) then would come back to take the next three sets, even though it looked like the Roadrunners appeared to be in good shape in the second set. MSUD held a 15-10 lead when the Lady Mustangs would begin their comeback. They would score 11 of the next 14 points to take a 21-18 lead to force a Roadrunner timeout. Leading into the break, WNMU had kills from Pulu and a pair from Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School). Out of the timeout, the Lady Mustangs kept the pressure on, receiving another pair of kills from Rux down the stretch to take the set, 25-20, and tie the match at one.
 
In the third set, it was tight early on with it even at 14 the Lady Mustangs taking the lead on an attack error, a kill from Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) and an attack error to give WNMU a 17-14 lead. WNMU would keep coming, pulling within a point of the set at 24-18 on a kill by Seluia Falealili. After the Roadrunners tallied two points, an attack error gave the set to WNMU, 25-20 and a 2-1 match lead.
 
The Lady Mustangs weren't to be denied in the fourth set, with the set close down the stretch, WNMU broke open a 19-all tie with a kill from Pulu and then a solo block from Pulu pushed the lead to 21-19. The momentum continued, with a kill from Rux and Pulu to run the lead to four, 23-19. The Roadrunners would get back to within two at 24-22 when Pulu sealed the match with a kill for the 25-22 set win and 3-1 match victory.
 
Pulu and Rux dominated the net all night for the Lady Mustangs, with Pulu leading with 19 kills, while Rux added 17. Falealili also reached double-digits in kills with 10. Kassie Kagawa (Hilo, HI/Waiakea High School) led in digs with 17, followed by 16 from Destiney Mebane (Upland, CA/Etiwanda High School) and 15 from Pulu. Pulu also powered the blocks, posting three solo and one assist.
 
WNMU will return home for their next four matches beginning with Chadron State College on Friday night beginning at 7 p.m. inside Drag's Court.