PHOENIX, Ariz./ALPINE, Tex. – Both the volleyball and football teams of Western New Mexico University will open the season in non-conference action this weekend.


The volleyball team will battle seven teams over the course of five days in Phoenix, with the last game against host Grand Canyon to have live stats. No other games will have live stats. They will open at 10 a.m. Mountain Standard Time on Friday against Central Washington and will later play UC-San Diego in the afternoon. Central Washington went 15-11 last year, while UC-San Diego rolled out a 22-6 mark making it to the NCAA Regionals. On Saturday, they will matchup against CSU-San Bernardino, who are ranked No. 3 in the nation, went 32-1 last year, with their only loss coming in the NCAA Championships against perennial power Concordia St Paul. WNMU will close action on Saturday against Cal-Poly Pomona, a team that went 14-13 last year and the Mustangs bested them, 3-2, last year in Pomona's own tournament. They will have Sunday off before playing two more game on Labor Day Monday opening with Haskell Indian Nations. Haskell went 5-26 last year and have already played a few matches this year going 2-3. WNMU concludes Monday against Embry Riddle of Arizona, who is 2-3 this season and went 5-14 last year. The Mustangs will play a solo game on Tuesday against host Grand Canyon, as the Lopes went 22-7 last year which included two wins over WNMU. After that match, WNMU will prepare to fly out to Alaska where they will play at least four more matches before returning home.


As for the WNMU football team, they will see a familiar face to open the season in Sul Ross State. The Division III out of Alpine, Texas, has given the Mustangs some memorable games over the past few seasons. Last year, a last-second touchdown pass from David Ingram (Irvine, CA/Woodbridge HS) to Marquis Sumpter (Oceanside/Falbrook Union HS) gave the Mustangs the 35-28 win over the Lobos. The year before, after opening against Division I Northern Arizona, WNMU played Sul Ross State in Alpine and it was another classic game. The Mustangs held a 28-12 lead, but the Lobos fought back to get within three, 35-32, late, but the Mustangs held on for the three-point win. In 2009, WNMU won by 15, 48-33, at Ben Altamirano Field. Sul Ross State went 2-8 last year, going 1-3 at home. The game will be broadcasted live on KSCQ 92.9 FM with Mike Rowse calling the action. Live stats will also be available through the link below with kickoff set for 12 p.m. MST.
 
LIVE AUDIO

LIVE STATS