SILVER CITY, N.M. – Following a five-match and nearly two-week road trip, the Western New Mexico University volleyball team returns home to host CSU-Pueblo and New Mexico Highlands this weekend inside Drag's Court.


WNMU (17-5, 9-4 RMAC) went 3-2 on the road swing, picking up three straight wins over Chadron State, Black Hills State and South Dakota Mines. They lost a pair of close matches to Colorado Christian and Colorado Mines to wrap up the trip.


The Lady Mustangs will face CSU-Pueblo Friday night at 7 p.m. having defeated the ThunderWolves earlier this season, 3-1, back on Oct. 5 in Pueblo. CSU-Pueblo lost this Tuesday at New Mexico Highlands, 3-1, which snapped a two-match winning streak as they had defeated Chadron State and Black Hills State. The ThunderWolves are 9-14 overall and 6-8 in the RMAC, just on the outside of the RMAC Tournament picture as the eighth seed is being held by UC-Colorado Springs and Fort Lewis, both 6-7 in the RMAC. Four players have over 100 kills for CSU-Pueblo, led by 231 from Brianna Bryant and 230 from Morgan Wilkening. Kacy Griffin has 699 assists, while on defense, Katie Burnett has 237 digs and Bryant leads in blocks with 82.


WNMU will close the weekend on Saturday night against in-state rival New Mexico Highlands with first serve at 7 p.m. NMHU is 11-12 overall, 5-9 in the RMAC and are also in the hunt for an RMAC Tournament spot. Darian Mullen leads five Cowgirls with at least 100 kills as she has 284. Tarissa Mellin has 534 assists, while Lexis Satele has 342. On defense, Jessica Piper has 373 digs and Mullen leads in blocks with 48. WNMU swept NMHU earlier this season, 3-0, back on Oct. 4 in Las Vegas.


WNMU enters this week third in the RMAC, just a half game behind Regis (10-4) and three behind first-place Colorado Mines (12-1). WNMU is tied with Colorado Mesa, Colorado Christian and Adams State who are all also at 9-4. The Lady Mustangs have a pair of seniors leading the offense in Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) and Bobbi Bayer (Granby, CO/Eddyville Blakesburg ) as the two are separated by just four kills with Pulu tallying 266 to 262 for Bayer. Kaysee Pilgrim (Phoenix, AZ/Barry Goldwater) (188), Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) (153) and Seluia "Ria" Falealili (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) (121) also have over 100 kills. Another senior, Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) has accounted for 918 of the 1,062 assists on the team this season. On defense, Pulu has 335 digs, while Meihack is second with 259. In terms of blocking, Pilgrim has 71, followed by 64 from Rich. WNMU is 4-1 at home this season, having won their last three all in straight sets over UC-Colorado Springs, Regis and Metro State.


Friday night will be "White Out" night for students, as they will receive a white shirt. Members of the community can also purchase a shirt for $5 at the gate. Veterans will be admitted free of charge to both matches in honor of Veterans Day.