CHADRON, Neb./SPEARFISH, S.D./RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team heads out on a lengthy five-match road trip that will see them play in five different towns and three different states.


First up, the Lady Mustangs (14-3, 7-2 RMAC) will face Chadron State in Nebraska this Friday night at 6 p.m. The Eagles have lost 12 straight, with their last win coming on Sep. 13 against William Jewell, 3-2. They are 3-14 overall and 0-8 in the RMAC. Three players have over 100 kills led by 144 from Jessica Jester. Justine Ackie has dished out 395 assists, while on defense, Alyssa Bauer has 232 digs and Alia Brennan has 45 total blocks. The past two seasons WNMU has hosted Chadron State coming away with 3-0 and 3-1 victories. The Lady Mustangs last played in Chadron in 2010 coming away with the straight set win. Since re-entering into the RMAC in 2006, the Lady Mustangs have defeated the Eagles each season.


On Saturday, the Lady Mustangs will travel to South Dakota to play Black Hills State with game time set for 7 p.m. The Yellow Jackets have lost seven straight with their last win coming against Chadron State, 3-1, on Sep. 24. Black Hills State is 5-12 overall and 1-7 in the RMAC. Four players have over 100 kills led by Amy O'Neill's 261. Brynn Eckhardt tallied 667 assists, while on defense Kelsey Olson has 329 digs and Shelby Mayer has 62 total blocks. WNMU defeated Black Hills State, 3-0, last year in Silver City as it was Black Hills State's first year in the RMAC.


WNMU will remain in South Dakota for a match against South Dakota Mines on Monday at 7 p.m. in Rapid City. The Hardrockers are 6-16 overall with their last win coming against Chadron State, 3-1, on Oct. 8. South Dakota Mines has played a few teams from the RMAC including two wins over Chadron State, splitting two matches against Black Hills State and losses to Colorado Christian (2-3) and most recently against Colorado Mesa (1-3).


The Lady Mustangs have won five straight matches and 12 straight sets. Most recently, WNMU swept Metro State, Regis and UCCS in Silver City this past weekend. WNMU has posted a 5-1 record away from home in true road matchups, while also going 5-1 in neutral matches. Bobbi Bayer (Granby, CO/Eddyville Blakesburg ) leads four Lady Mustangs with over 100 kills as she has 194 followed by 183 from Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School), 140 from Kaysee Pilgrim (Phoenix, AZ/Barry Goldwater) and 120 from Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom). Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) has tallied 674 assists, averaging 10.70 per set. She is also tied for the service aces with 17, while Pulu also has 17. Pulu leads in digs with 260, while Meihack has 197. In terms of blocking, Pilgrim has 46 and Rich is also over 40 with 42.


WNMU will remain on the road trip after their match Monday as they will play RMAC opponents Colorado Christian Thursday and Colorado Mines Friday.