Box Score SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team opened strong Saturday night taking the first two sets from Colorado Mesa University before the Mavericks responded in a big way taking the next three sets to defeat the Mustangs, 3-2, (25-21, 25-23, 19-25, 22-25, 10-15) inside Drag's Court.


In the opening set, WNMU (9-3, 2-2 RMAC) broke an 11-all tie with four straight points as Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) had a pair of kills, while Alyssa Meihack (Fallon, NV/Churchill County High School) and Francquee Acosta (El Paso, TX/Americas) each tallied a kill before a CMU (10-2, 3-1 RMAC) error pushed the lead to 15-11. The Mavericks fought back to take the lead at 20-19 before the Lady Mustangs responded by ending the set on a 6-1 run to take the set. During the run Rich had three kills, Acosta and Rich combined for a double-block, while Bobbi Bayer (Granby, CO/Eddyville Blakesburg ) and Kaysee Pilgrim (Phoenix, AZ/Barry Goldwater) tallied kills as WNMU took the set, 25-21. WNMU hit well in the set, connecting on 19 kills to six errors in 50 swings for a .260 hitting percentage.


The second set looked to be a runaway for WNMU early as they jumped out to a 10-2 lead behind points from Rich, Pilgrim (four points), Angelina Pulu (Long Beach, CA/Robert A. Millikan High School) (two points) and service aces from Kassie Kagawa (Hilo, HI/Waiakea High School) and Chyler Imai (Kapaau, HI/Kohala) before an error by the Mavericks ended the run. With WNMU cruising at 24-18, CMU wouldn't go away easily in the set as they reeled off five straight points to make it 24-23 when Pilgrim came through with the clutch kill giving WNMU the set, 25-23, and the match lead, 2-0.


CMU responded by taking a 12-9 lead in the third set, but the Lady Mustangs came back to within one at 17-16 on a kill from Pulu. After that point, the Mavericks took control ending the set on an 8-3 run to take the set, 25-19, to extend the match to the fourth.


The teams tied throughout the fourth set, as following a tie again at 19, the Mavericks posted a kill and then posted points on a pair of Mustang attack errors, with the last coming on a solo block to move ahead 22-19. WNMU would score the next two on points from Pilgrim on a solo block and an attack error before CMU closed the set on a 3-1 run to take the set, 25-22, and send the match to the deciding fifth set.


The Mavericks used the momentum gained from the previous two sets to jump out to a 2-0 lead, but the Lady Mustangs would fight back to tie at two on a kill from Acosta and attacking error. WNMU moved in front 6-4 on a double-block from Pilgrim and Acosta when CMU came back with a 4-0 run to move ahead for good at 8-6. WNMU would get to within one at 9-8 on a service error. Following the error, CMU went on to take six of the next eight points to take the set, 15-10, and the match, 3-2. CMU hit well in the deciding set, connecting at a .294 clip with nine kills to four errors in 17 attempts, while holding WNMU to a .059 percentage with five kills to four errors on 17 swings.


Three Lady Mustangs tallied double-digit in kills with Pilgrim posting 13, followed by 12 each from Bayer and Pulu. Meihack dished out 51 assists, while on defense Meihack led in digs with 16, Rich and Pilgrim had three solo blocks each and Pilgrim and Acosta added three block assists.


WNMU will hit the road next week as they will play at New Mexico Highlands on Friday at 7 p.m. before finishing the trip on Saturday at CSU-Pueblo also at 7 p.m.