GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team dug deep Saturday night coming back from a two-set deficit to defeat Colorado Mesa University in five sets (21-25, 20-25, 25-21, 25-16, 15-7) in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.
In the opening set, Western New Mexico University (WNMU) opened a 3-1 lead on a double-block by
Shelley Wermuth (San Diego, CA/Mt. Carmel) and
Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School). WNMU (5-9, 2-2 RMAC) would battle back-and-forth in the set holding a 14-12 lead on a service error. With the set all squared at 16, Colorado Mesa University (CMU) reeled off the next three points to open a 19-16 lead on their way to taking the set, 25-21.
The second set again started well for the Lady Mustangs as they opened a 6-3 lead on back-to-back kills, first by Rux and then by
Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy). CMU (9-3, 3-1 RMAC) countered with the next four points to take the lead, 7-6. WNMU quickly rebounded to tally four straight points themselves with Seluia Falealili and Rux combining on a block, which Falealili followed with a kill and after a service ace from
Chyler Imai (Kapaau, HI/Kohala), WNMU jumped in front 10-7. After the teams traded points to end up tied at 12, CMU went on a 6-0 run to put the set out of reach on their way to taking the set, 25-20.
Similar to Friday, the Lady Mustangs came out strong in the third set to keep the match alive. An early 6-4 advantage for the Lady Mustangs came after an attack error. The lead would reach 10-6 on yet another attack error by the Mavs. The lead ballooned to 15-8 following yet another attack error. CMU fought back to within three, 19-16, but WNMU wasn't to be denied, coming back with a kill from Falealili and a double-block by Verhulsdonk and Rux to push the lead back to five, 21-16. A service error at 24-21 boosted WNMU to the set win, 25-21, to extend the match to the fourth set.
WNMU opened the fourth frame on fire, forcing CMU into more attack errors, including the opening point and then the set point went to the Lady Mustangs on a double-block by
Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) and Rux. The lead would reach 5-0 before the Mavs tallied a point. Another lengthy run would start on the next point for WNMU following a service error the run would reach 5-0 again to push the lead to 10-1. CMU would come back with their own 5-0 run, but the Lady Mustangs were ready to send this match the distance. The Mavs would get as close as 14-12 when WNMU came back with a kill from Falealili and an attack error helped push the lead back to four. The Lady Mustangs closed the set strong, scoring the final two points, one on a service error and the other on an attack error to take the set, 25-16, and send the match to a decisive fifth set.
The fifth started out tied at two when the Lady Mustangs posted back-to-back kills from Pulu and then a double-block from Pulu and Wermuth pushed the lead to 5-2. Pulu continued to take over adding another kill to make it 7-4 and keep the lead at three. With Pulu then serving, Verhulsdonk came through with a kill off yet another assist by
Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) to keep the run going and the advantage to 8-4 forcing a Mavs timeout. The Lady Mustangs continued to attack out of the timeout posting a kill from Falealili and then forcing an attack error to stretch the lead to six, 10-4, and yet another CMU timeout. On the other side of the timeout, Verhulsdonk and Wermuth combined for a double-block to put WNMU four points away. The run would reach six on a service ace from Pulu before CMU finally broke the string with a kill at 12-5. But WNMU had too much momentum, getting a pair of kills from Verhulsdonk to put WNMU one point away at 14-6 and after CMU tallied a kill, Rux and Falealili combined for a double-block to give WNMU the set, 15-7, and 3-2 match victory.
Pulu had yet another outstanding night, both offensively and defensively, leading the team in kills with 24, as she recorded a .259 hitting percentage and also led the team in digs with 24. In addition, she also posted three block assists. Verhulsdonk tallied double-digit kills with 12, recording a .357 hitting percentage. Meihack led the team in assists with 43, while adding 15 digs.
Destiney Mebane (Upland, CA/Etiwanda High School) also tallied 15 digs and Rux led the team in blocks with six block assists.
The win by WNMU snaps a six-game win streak for CMU. The Lady Mustangs will return to action at home this coming Friday when they will host in-state rival New Mexico Highlands with first set to begin at 7 p.m. inside Drag's Court.
Western New Mexico def. Colorado Mesa Univ. 21-25,20-25,25-21,25-16,15-7
Western New Mexico (5-9, 2-2) (Kills-aces-blocks) -
Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School)
24-1-3;
Ziona Verhulsdonk (Kailua, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) 12-0-3;
Heather Rux (Cottonwood, AZ/Mingus Union High School) 9-1-6; Seluia Falealili
7-0-3;
Lauren Buseman (Eagar, AZ/Round Valley) 2-0-2;
Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) 2-0-1;
Shelley Wermuth (San Diego, CA/Mt. Carmel)
1-0-4;
Chyler Imai (Kapaau, HI/Kohala) 0-1-0; Totals 57-3-11.0. (Assists) -
Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School)
43. (Dig leaders) -
Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) 24; Keirsa Pakani-Tsukiy 16; Alyssa
Meihack 15;
Destiney Mebane (Upland, CA/Etiwanda High School) 15;
Chyler Imai (Kapaau, HI/Kohala) 11
Colorado Mesa Univ. (9-3, 3-1) (Kills-aces-blocks) - Melissa Hess
14-0-2; Kelly Regimbal 11-0-2; Haleigh Higgins 7-1-1; Christian Otzen
7-0-2; Abby Ney 4-0-1; Rebecca Sellers 4-0-1; Rachael Beaty 3-0-5;
Audrey Steinkirchner 2-0-3; Jordyn Moody 2-2-1; Megan Rush 0-1-0;
Totals 54-4-10.0. (Assists) - Jordyn Moody 31; Krista Ubersox 15. (Dig
leaders) - Megan Rush 25; Christian Otzen 13; Tiffany Petersen 10;
Jordyn Moody 9; Haleigh Higgins 8
Site: Grand Junction, CO (Brownson Arena)
Date: Sep 22, 2012 Attend: 397 Time: 2:11
Referees: Joel Kover, Lori Hamm
