Box Score SPEARFISH, S.D. – It took a five-set rally, but the Western New Mexico University volleyball team fought back to take the final three sets and extend their winning streak to seven after defeating Black Hills State University, 3-2 (20-25, 24-26, 25-23, 25-15, 15-6) Saturday afternoon in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.


The opening set swung towards BHSU (5-14, 1-9 RMAC) as they broke open a 12-11 set to go in front 16-12. WNMU (16-3, 9-2 RMAC) would come back to within one at 18-17 following a kill from Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School). The Yellow Jackets countered with a 6-0 run to move to set point at 24-17. WNMU would come back to score the next three points before BHSU closed the set at 25-20.


The Lady Mustangs held a 10-8 lead in the second set following another kill from Pulu, as she tallied a match-high 21 kills. WNMU still held the lead at 20-18 on a kill from Kaysee Pilgrim (Phoenix, AZ/Barry Goldwater). BHSU would come back to tie the set and move to set point at 24-23. Pulu kept the set alive with a kill before the Yellow Jackets came through with a pair of points for the 26-24 set win and 2-0 match lead.


BHSU appeared to be ready to take the match in three sets as they jumped out to a 15-8 lead in the third. Still down five at 19-14, WNMU began their comeback as they strung together seven points to take a 21-19 lead. Pilgrim, Pulu and Bobbi Bayer (Granby, CO/Eddyville Blakesburg ) tallied kills, while Pulu also had a service ace. With the set knotted at 23, Seluia "Ria" Falealili (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) delivered and kill, then she teamed with Lauren Buseman (Eagar, AZ/Round Valley) for a big block to take the set, 25-23, and keep the match alive.


The Lady Mustangs exploded in the fourth set, this time taking charge early as they moved out to a 15-6 lead. Buseman, Bayer and Pilgrim posted several kills during the strong early start. WNMU wouldn't be threatened much throughout the rest of the set, as BHSU would get as close as five before WNMU closed the set scoring nine of the final 13 points for the 25-15 set win as Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) and Pilgrim posted a block to close the set and tie the match at two sets each.


With momentum clearly on the side of the Lady Mustangs, they didn't let up as they broke open a four-all fifth set with kills from Kassie Kagawa (Hilo, HI/Waiakea High School) and Pilgrim to give WNMU a lead they wouldn't relinquish. With WNMU ahead 10-6, WNMU closed the set strong with a 5-0 run with Pulu and Bayer collecting kills before the Yellow Jackets committed three errors to give WNMU the 15-6 set win and 3-2 match win.


WNMU was held to a .182 hitting percentage as BHSU tallied 13 blocks, while WNMU ended up with 70 kills. Four Lady Mustangs reached double-digits in kills with Pulu leading the way with 21, followed by 15 from Bayer, 13 from Falealili and 10 from Pilgrim. Meihack collected 59 of the 64 total assists, while on defense, Pulu tallied 21 digs, Kagawa with 18, Chyler Imai (Kapaau, HI/Kohala) with 17, Meihack with 12, and Keirsa Pakani-Tsukiyama (Hilo, HI/Waiakea) and Reyna Acosta (Pearl City, HI/Pearl City) with 11 each. Pilgrim posted three block assists.
With the win, WNMU has now won seven straight and with their 16^th win of the season, they eclipse last year's win total of 15.


Their streak of straight sets won ended at 15 with BHSU winning the first set. WNMU remains in second in the RMAC with a 9-2 mark, while Colorado Mines (10-1) is still in front by a half game. The Lady Mustangs also have the best overall record in the conference at 16-3.


WNMU will face South Dakota Mines in a non-conference matchup on Monday evening at 7 p.m. South Dakota Mines last played on Sunday against RMAC opponent Colorado Mesa as the Mavs came away with a 3-1 win.