Box Score SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team opened strong Thursday and they never let up on their way to a 3-0 victory over the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (25-16, 25-20, 25-20) in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action inside Drag's Court.


WNMU (12-3, 5-2 RMAC) came out with a 3-0 burst in the opening set behind a kill from Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom), a service error by UCCS and a service ace from Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School). UCCS (7-8, 3-4 RMAC) would come back to take an 8-5 lead, but the Lady Mustangs would again fight back with another run to go back in front by two, 12-10. During the run, WNMU took advantage of three Mountain Lion errors and collected a kill by Bobbi Bayer (Granby, CO/Eddyville Blakesburg ). WNMU would move to set point after reeling off six straight points as Meihack tallied two kills, along with a solo block, while Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) added a kill and a UCCS error for the 24-15 lead. After UCCS scored the next point, Pulu ended the set with a kill for the 25-16 set win.


UCCS appeared to be heading for the second set, running out to a 16-10 lead, but again the Lady Mustangs would come galloping back. Pulu would start what would turn out to be a 5-0 run with a kill, as Kassie Kagawa (Hilo, HI/Waiakea High School) added a service ace, Rich and Pulu tallied a double-block, Rich then teamed with Meihack for a double-block and an attack error had WNMU within one, 16-15. With UCCS back in front, 18-16, another spurt put the Lady Mustangs ahead for good with Pulu again starting the rally with a kill. A pair of UCCS errors had WNMU in front, 19-18, leading to a Mountain Lion timeout. Out of the break, Pulu tallied a kill, followed by a service ace to move the lead to 21-18. Ahead 23-19, Meihack tallied a kill to push the Lady Mustangs to set point that was delivered by Bayer for the 25-20 set win and 2-0 match lead.


The third set was just like the second with the teams remaining close over the first 20 points. UCCS would then jump out to a 16-11 lead when the Lady Mustangs would come back. Lauren Buseman (Eagar, AZ/Round Valley) started the run with a kill, followed by two kills from Bayer and after an attack error, Kaysee Pilgrim (Phoenix, AZ/Barry Goldwater) tied the set at 16 with a kill. With the set squared at 19, an attack error put WNMU in front for good after Rich and Pulu pounded kills for the 22-19 lead. Rich tallied another kill to put WNMU one-point away at 24-20 when Meihack tallied a service ace for the 25-20 set win and 3-0 match victory.


Even distribution powered the Lady Mustangs with Pulu and Rich tying for the team lead in kills with eight, followed by seven from Bayer and six by Pilgrim. Meihack tallied 28 assists and three service aces. On defense, Pulu had 20 digs, while Rich had five block assists.


WNMU will face No. 24 Regis Friday night at 7 p.m. The Rangers defeated New Mexico Highlands, 3-0, Thursday night.