Box Score DURANGO, Colo. – The strong play continued for the Western New Mexico University volleyball team Saturday night as they dominated Fort Lewis College in a 3-0 sweep (25-13, 25-18, 25-20) in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.


The win moves WNMU to 21-5 overall and 13-4 in RMAC play, which leaves them all alone in second place with one week remaining in the regular season. Colorado Mines got past Metro State in five on Saturday to move to 16-1 in the conference and clinch the RMAC regular season crown. Adams State, WNMU's opponent on Friday, is alone in third with a 12-5 conference mark after two wins this weekend. After that, four teams are tied for fourth at 11-6 in Colorado Mesa, Colorado Christian, Metro State and Regis. Fort Lewis remains in the eighth and final spot at 8-9, holding just a one game lead over CSU-Pueblo and UC-Colorado Springs, both 7-10 and New Mexico Highlands is still alive two games back at 6-11. The top four teams host the first round of the RMAC Tournament on Tuesday, Nov. 19 and then the highest remaining seed hosts the final four on Nov. 22-23.


From the outset, the Lady Mustangs were in control as they quickly moved in front 11-5 during the opening set with FLC (8-17, 8-9 RMAC) committing a pair of errors around kills by Bobbi Bayer (Granby, CO/Eddyville Blakesburg ) and Kaysee Pilgrim (Phoenix, AZ/Barry Goldwater) that helped close the six-point lead. The lead moved to eight at 17-9 on another attack error and later the lead reached 12 on a service ace by Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) for the 22-10 lead. WNMU would end up taking the set by 12 as a bad set by the Skyhawks led to a 25-13 WNMU set win.


The Lady Mustangs galloped to a quick 6-1 start in the second set with Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) tallying a pair of kills, Bayer and Seluia "Ria" Falealili (Long Beach, CA/Long Beach Poly) with a kill each and then a double-block by Rich and Falealili around an FLC error led to the early advantage. The Skyhawks would get back to within three at 9-6, when WNMU moved back in front by six with a pair of kills by Pulu for a 12-6 lead. WNMU continued to cruise as they went in front by 10 at 20-10 on a service ace by Pulu and after FLC made a late 5-0 run, Bayer closed the set with a kill for the 25-18 set win and 2-0 match lead.


The third set was close early, with the teams tying and changing leads until WNMU began to pull away at 12-all when they scored the next three points with Falealili with two kills and Bayer with one. FLC would get back to within two later at 17-15, but WNMU continued with the pressure as a Pulu kill moved WNMU ahead, 21-15 and with FLC within three again at 23-20, Rich tallied a kill and an attack error by FLC gave the Lady Mustangs the 25-20 set win and 3-0 match sweep.


WNMU hit .258, with 39 kills to 15 errors in 93 chances, while holding FLC to a .081 hitting percentage (29 kills, 21 errors in 99 chances). Bayer led the way with 12 kills, while Falealili hit .500 with 10 kills to three errors in 14 chances. Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) had 33 assists, while on defense, Reyna Acosta (Pearl City, HI/Pearl City) had nine digs and Rich posted four blocks, one solo.


WNMU will host Adams State University Friday night inside Drag's Court with first serve at 7 p.m.