DENVER, Colo. – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team had their season come to an end at the hands of Regis, 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-20) Tuesday night in the quarterfinal round of the RMAC Tournament.


Western New Mexico University (WNMU) entered as the seventh seed, while Regis University (RU) was the No. 2 seed and this was the second time this season the two had matched up, with RU winning the earlier match, 3-0, that was also played in Denver. In other matchups on the night, top-seed Colorado Mines swept No. 8 Colorado Mesa, No. 3 Adams State defeated UCCS, 3-1 and Colorado Christian, the five seed, defeated No. 4 Metro State in five.


In the opening set, WNMU tied things early at one on a kill by Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy). The Rangers answered with a 7-0 run to jump out to an 8-1 lead forcing a Lady Mustang timeout. WNMU would get to within six a couple of times over the next few points, but the Rangers kept the momentum on their way to taking the first set, 25-14.


Lauren Buseman (Eagar, AZ/Round Valley) helped tie the second set with a kill to even it at two, but again RU reeled off another run, this one a 4-0 variety to take a 6-2 lead. The Lady Mustangs would get back to within three at 7-4 on an attack error. The Rangers took the next six points to open a 13-4 advantage. WNMU answered with a string of points, with Seluia “Ria” Falealili tallying a kill and after Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School) posted a kill, Falealil and Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) combined for a double-block to give WNMU a 3-0 run and trim the deficit to 13-7. WNMU would get to within five at 14-9 on a kill by Rux when RU began to pull away scoring five of the next six points on their way to taking the set, 25-18 and take a 2-0 match lead.


WNMU held an early 2-1 lead in the third set on a bad set error. RU came back with the next five points to take a 6-2 lead. After the Rangers pushed the lead to seven, 10-3, WNMU would come back to cut it to five a pair of times with the second time coming at 13-8 on an attack error. Trailing 21-14, WNMU made a run tallying four points with Verhulsdonk and Rux tallying kills, along with an attack error and a double-block by Buseman and Verhulsdonk to get the Lady Mustangs within three, 21-18. The teams would trade the next two points when RU recorded the next two to move one point away at 24-19. Following a service error, RU ended the match with a kill on the next point for the 25-20 set win and 3-0 match win.


WNMU, playing without Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School), were limited to 24 kills to 19 errors in 104 total chances. Rux, Verhulsdonk and Falealili led the team in kills with five apiece. Meihack tallied 17 assists, Destiney Mebane (Upland, CA/Etiwanda High School) led in digs with 14 and Buseman tallied three block-assists.


WNMU finishes the season at 15-15 and it was the last game for seniors Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School) and Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy).
 
Western New Mexico vs #14 Regis University (Nov 13, 2012 at Denver, CO)
 
  Regis University def. Western New Mexico 25-14,25-18,25-20
 
  Western New Mexico (15-15) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School) 5-0-0;
  Seluia Falealili 5-0-1; Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) 5-0-2; Destiney Mebane (Upland, CA/Etiwanda High School)
  4-0-0; Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) 3-0-2; Lauren Buseman (Eagar, AZ/Round Valley) 2-0-3; Kassie Kagawa (Hilo, HI/Waiakea High School)
  0-1-0; Chyler Imai (Kapaau, HI/Kohala) 0-1-0; Totals 24-2-4.0. (Assists) - Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School)
  17. (Dig leaders) - Destiney Mebane (Upland, CA/Etiwanda High School) 14; Kassie Kagawa (Hilo, HI/Waiakea High School) 7
 
  Regis University (23-8) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Katie Klein 13-0-0;
  Makayla Higgins 11-0-0; Caitie Breaux 9-2-1; Lauren Flanagan 5-0-0;
  Gina Morgan 4-0-2; Caitlin McDonnell 3-0-3; Laura Schroeder 1-0-1;
  Jaclyn Williamson 1-0-1; Rebecca Sponcil 0-0-1; Maya Kirkeby 0-1-0;
  Totals 47-3-5.0. (Assists) - Rebecca Sponcil 21; Jaclyn Williamson 19.
  (Dig leaders) - Makayla Higgins 11; Sage Martinson 9; Maya Kirkeby 9
 
  Site: Denver, CO (Regis Fieldhouse)
  Date: Nov 13, 2012   Attend: 126   Time: 1:14   
  Referees: Todd Raasch, Ryan McCallum