Box Score



SILVER CITY, N.M. – Behind a .324 hitting percentage in the opening set, the Western New Mexico University volleyball team swept past Fort Lewis College, 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-20) Friday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action inside Drag's Court.


WNMU (9-2, 2-1 RMAC) had 16 kills to just four errors in 37 total attacks in the first set to post a .324 hitting percentage. Fort Lewis College (FLC) opened the first set with a 4-1 lead before WNMU went on a 5-0 run and never looked back. Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School), Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) and Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) all had kills during the run. The lead reached 10-5 on a kill by Kaysee Pilgrim (Phoenix, AZ/Barry Goldwater) forcing a FLC (1-11, 1-3 RMAC) timeout. Out of the break, the Lady Mustangs posted a 5-2 run before the next FLC timeout with Lauren Buseman (Eagar, AZ/Round Valley), Bobbi Bayer (Granby, CO/Eddyville Blakesburg ) and Pulu pounding kills. FLC would get back to within four at 20-16 when WNMU scored five of the next seven points to take the set on a kill by Pulu at 25-18.


WNMU reeled off an early 7-0 run in the second set to open an 8-2 advantage. After Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) posted a kill, with Pulu serving WNMU would go on to score the next six points with Bayer tallying two kills, a double-block from Buseman and Rich and two service aces from Pulu. WNMU would remain ahead although the Skyhawks came back to within three at 18-15 when Pilgrim tallied a kill then teamed with Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) for a double-block to push the lead to 20-15. Later, an attack error by FLC gave WNMU the set, 25-18, and 2-0 match lead.


The third set was close throughout most of it, with the teams tying at 13 before WNMU began to pull away. From that point on, the Lady Mustangs posted three straight points with Rich and Buseman tallying a solo block, then Rich and Bayer added a double-block for a 16-13 advantage. After FLC battled back to within one at 19-18, Pilgrim added a kill and after an attack error by FLC, Pulu delivered a kill for the 22-18 lead. WNMU finished the set with a pair of points as Pulu posted a kill and then Pulu a solo block for the 25-20 set win and 3-0 match victory.


Pulu led the team in kills with 10, followed by nine from Bayer and Meihack had 34 assists. Defensively, Pulu had 17 digs and
Kassie Kagawa (Hilo, HI/Waiakea High School) with 13. Pulu had two solo blocks, while Rich had three block assists.


WNMU will return to action Saturday night when they will host Colorado Mesa at 7 p.m. inside Drag's Court.