DURANGO, Colo. – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team claimed the third set Friday to extend the match, but Fort Lewis College came back to take the fourth set and the match, 3-1, (22-25, 20-25, 25-16, 21-25) in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


Western New Mexico University (WNMU) opened the first set with the first two points and held a lead of 10-8 following a double-block from Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) and Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School). Fort Lewis College (FLC) came back to tie the set at 11 before taking the lead on the next point. WNMU (4-9, 1-2 RMAC) fought back to take the lead at 20-19 on a kill by Rux. After the Lady Mustangs fell behind by two, they rallied back to tie things at 22 thanks to a kill by Rux and then a double-block from Rux and Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School). FLC (6-6, 2-2 RMAC) wasn't to be denied, countering with the next three points to take the set, 25-22.


The Skyhawks opened the second set with an early lead to then watch the Lady Mustangs storm back to open a 7-4 lead on a double-block from Seluia "Ria" Falealili  and Shelley Wermuth (San Diego, CA/Mt. Carmel). The lead would reach three (10-7) on a service error. After FLC came back to knot the set at 10, the teams would tie six times down the stretch before the Skyhawks broke open the last tie at 17 with the next two points on their way to taking the set, 25-20, to open a 2-0 lead.


WNMU came out on a roll to start the third set, scoring the first 10 points for a 10-0 lead. The Lady Mustangs posted plenty of kills during the run with Falealili tallying three and Rux another two, while the pair also combined on two double-blocks. The lead would never be threatened with the Lady Mustangs cruising to the 25-16 set win to send the match to the fourth set.


FLC opened the fourth strong posting an 8-4 lead. With the lead 10-8 in favor of FLC, the Lady Mustangs reeled off the next three points to grab the lead again at 11-10 on a double-block from Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) and Rux. With the set tied at 13, FLC began to make their move tallying the next three points. WNMU would get back to within a point on two occasions down the stretch, but the Skyhawks scored three of the final four points to claim the set, 25-21, and the match.


Rux led the team in both kills with nine and in blocks with three, with all of them coming on assist blocks. Pulu was second with eight kills, while tying for the team lead in digs with eight. Meihack led the team in assists with 29, while tying with Pulu in digs with eight.  


WNMU will have a quick turnaround as they will play in Grand Junction, Colo., Saturday night against Colorado Mesa University with gametime set for 7 p.m. The Mavericks hold a 9-2 overall record and 3-0 in the conference.