Box Score LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team started strong Thursday night taking the first set before Colorado Christian University rallied to take the next three sets and defeat the Lady Mustangs, 3-1, (25-17, 23-25, 22-25, 19-25) in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


WNMU (17-4, 9-3 RMAC) came out of the gates on fire in the opening set as they quickly moved to a 12-5 lead. The stretch included a 4-0 run at the end with points from Bobbi Bayer (Granby, CO/Eddyville Blakesburg ) with a kill and a solo block from Kaysee Pilgrim (Phoenix, AZ/Barry Goldwater) before a pair of CCU (14-8, 8-4 RMAC)errors led to a timeout. The Cougars would come back to get within three at 19-16, but the Lady Mustangs answered with another 4-0 run with Pilgrim posting a kill, a double block by Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) and Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) around two Cougar errors for a 23-16 lead and another CCU timeout. After the Cougars scored a point out of the break, Pulu scored a kill and Rich and Seluia "Ria" Falealili (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) teamed up for a block to give WNMU the 25-17 set win. WNMU hit .250 in the first set, collecting 12 kills to three errors in 36 total chances.


The Lady Mustangs started the second set strong moving ahead 8-5 on a kill by Pilgrim. CCU answered back to then take a 12-9 lead. WNMU came back to tie the set at 14 on a kill by Falealili and then regain the lead on the next point with a kill from Pilgrim. Pulu would push the Lady Mustang lead to two at 16-14 before CCU would come back to tally seven of the next eight points for a 21-17 lead. The Cougars moved to set point at 24-20 when the Lady Mustangs reeled off points on a kill by Pulu, another from Rich and then a double block by Falealili and Rich to get within one at 24-23. CCU was able to escape with the set as they posted the next point to take the set, 25-23, and even the match at one.


The third set swung to the favor of WNMU as they moved in front 13-10 following a service ace by Pulu. They would go ahead by four at 15-11 on a kill by Bobbi Bayer (Granby, CO/Eddyville Blakesburg ) which forced a CCU timeout. WNMU would keep the lead all the way until the Cougars erased a 21-20 lead scoring the next four points to move to set point at 24-21. Bayer answered with a kill to keep the set alive, but CCU came back with the next point for the 25-22 set win and 2-1 match lead.


The fourth set was just like the other sets for the Lady Mustangs as they opened with an early lead at 5-3 on a service ace from Keirsa Pakani-Tsukiyama (Hilo, HI/Waiakea). CCU would come back to take the lead before WNMU would tie the set for what would turn out to be the final time at 11-all on a double block from Lauren Buseman (Eagar, AZ/Round Valley) and Pilgrim. CCU would move ahead 19-13, but WNMU wouldn't go away easily getting back to within three at 21-18 on a kill by Pulu. CCU would close the set strong scoring four of the next five points for a 25-19 set win and 3-1 match victory.


Pulu continued her strong offensive play over the past few matches as she tallied another 16 kills to lead the Lady Mustangs. Bayer also reached double-figures with 12. Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) had 43 assists. On defense, Pulu and Kassie Kagawa (Hilo, HI/Waiakea High School) led the team with 16 apiece, while Rich had eight block assists as WNMU had 14 blocks as a team.


The loss snapped WNMU's second eight-match winning streak of the season. They will look to get back on the winning track against No. 16 and top-seed in the RMAC Colorado School of Mines Friday night at 7 p.m.