SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team opened the RMAC slate in style Friday night defeating Western State Colorado University, 3-1, inside Drag's Court.


The first set was heading the way of Western State Colorado University (WSCU) opening an 11-6 lead. Western New Mexico University (WNMU) would work their way back eventually taking the lead at 15-14 on a service ace by Destiney Mebane (Upland, CA/Etiwanda High School).
The teams would trade points until a kill from Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) put WNMU (4-7, 1-0 RMAC) on the brink of the set at 25-24. A ball handling error on the next point gave the Lady Mustangs a 26-24 first set win.


The Lady Mountaineers (1-9, 0-2 RMAC) started the second set strong with an early 13-7 lead. They would hold the lead until a service error powered WNMU in front, 18-17. Again, WSCU would fight back to tie the set several times, with the last coming at 23 when a pair of kills, one from Shelly Wermuth and the other from Pulu sealed the set, 25-23, and put WNMU one set away.


The Lady Mountaineers showed fight in the third set, despite trailing 12-9 early after Pulu posted a kill. WSCU forged in front 20-16, and would hold off a Lady Mustang rally, one that had WNMU within one at 23-22 on a kill by Keirsa Pakani-Tsukiyama (Hilo, HI/Waiakea) before WSCU posted the next two points for a 25-22 set win forcing the match to the fourth.


The Lady Mustangs came out with a vengeance in the fourth frame, running out to a 10-0 lead. WSCU refused to go away quietly, coming back to within three, 18-15. WNMU then regained their form, posting the final seven points, including three straight kills from Pulu to end the set, 25-15, and the match, 3-1.


Pulu tore up the next with 22 kills, while adding two assists, eight digs and two blocks (one solo, three assists). Seluia Falealili added 11 kills, including two block assists. Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) once again was dishing out the assists posting 41, while also leading the team in digs with 16. Reyna Acosta (Pearl City, HI/Pearl City) (14) and Kassie Kagawa (Hilo, HI/Waiakea High School) (9) were next on the list in digs. Each team posted 10 total team blocks.


WNMU will have a quick turnaround as they will host Adams State University Saturday night beginning at 7 p.m. inside Drag's Court.
 
Western State vs Western New Mexico (Sep 14, 2012 at Silver City, NM)
 
  Western New Mexico def. Western State 26-24,25-23,22-25,25-15
 
  Western State (1-9, 0-2 RMAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Makenna Christ
  16-0-3; Kallee Cool 7-1-1; Kelsie Dardis 5-0-3; Hailey Rehage 5-2-6;
  Ali Smith 4-0-2; Sami Fuentes 2-2-0; Molly Dolson 2-0-2; Ashley Milan
  1-0-0; Totals 42-5-10.0. (Assists) - Molly Dolson 31. (Dig leaders) -
  Sami Fuentes 20; Makenna Christ 13; Ali Smith 11; Molly Dolson 10
 
  Western New Mexico (4-7, 1-0 RMAC) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School)
  22-3-4; Seluia Falealili 11-1-2; Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) 7-1-2; Shelly
  Wermuth 6-1-7; Lauren Buseman (Eagar, AZ/Round Valley) 4-0-2; Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) 3-0-1; Keirsa
  Pakani-Tsukiy 1-0-0; Destiney Mebane (Upland, CA/Etiwanda High School) 0-3-0; Totals 54-9-10.0.
  (Assists) - Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) 41. (Dig leaders) - Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) 16;
  Reyna Acosta (Pearl City, HI/Pearl City) 14; Kassie Kagawa (Hilo, HI/Waiakea High School) 9; Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) 8
 
  Site: Silver City, NM (Drag's Court)
  Date: Sep 14, 2012   Attend: 355   Time: 2:05