Box Score DURANGO, Colo. – Using 31 kills over the final two sets, the Western New Mexico University volleyball team cruised after dropping the opening set to down Fort Lewis College, 3-1 (21-25, 25-20, 25-18, 25-23) Saturday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.
Following low hitting percentages (.050, .028) in the first two sets, the Lady Mustangs (6-11, 3-7 RMAC) warmed up to hit .367 in the third and then .204 in the fourth to claim the victory over the Skyhawks (6-13, 2-8 RMAC).
FLC took control of the first set, breaking a tie at eight-all to open a 15-10 lead. WNMU would fight back to within three a few times, with the last coming at 19-16 on a kill by
Leeta Grap (Kamuela, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy). FLC, though, would hold off any further rallies to take the set, 25-21.
The second set was close just like the first early on, only this time the Lady Mustangs were able to break the tie in their favor. Tied at 13, WNMU would open a five-point lead at 18-13 taking advantage of attack errors by the Skyhawks, with the last three resulting in blocks for the Lady Mustangs as
Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) was in on all three, while
Sheila Menezes (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Escola Estadual Prof. Antonio Ablas Filho) and
Morgan Lyneis (Victorville, CA/Apple Valley) added block assists. FLC would come back to within two at 19-17, but WNMU would keep the pressure on to take the set after
Kalie Lyle (Phoenix, AZ/Sandra Day O' Connor ) ended it with a kill for the 25-20 second set victory.
Just like the other sets, both teams went back-and-forth early on in the third. Once again tied at 13 and again at 14, WNMU went on a 6-0 run to pull away.
Taryn Schriner (Dayton, NV/Dayton ) tallied a pair of kills,
Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow ) and Menezes added kills and a pair of attack errors gave WNMU the 20-14 lead. The Skyhawks would get only as close as five down the stretch before an attack error gave the Lady Mustangs a 25-18 third set win. The offense shined for WNMU in the set, connecting on 16 kills to five errors in 30 chances for a .367 hitting percentage.
The fourth set, WNMU seized control early and never look back. Blocks by Verrill, Lyneis and Menezes helped propel a 9-4 start for the Lady Mustangs. The lead stretched to six on a kill by Verrill at 15-9. A service error had WNMU ahead by eight, 19-11, when the Skyhawks started to make a comeback. Ahead 24-20 on a kill by
Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy ), FLC would post three straight points before
Lauren Buseman (Eagar, AZ/Round Valley) closed the set, 25-23, and the match for the Lady Mustangs.
Verrill led the offense with 12 kills, Menezes added 10.
Melanie Hughes (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King Jr.) posted 18 assists,
Opal Drapeau (Denver, CO/Bishop Machebeuf Catholic ) added 15. Three players had at least 10 digs led by
Kelsie Bailey (Albuquerque, NM/El Dorado) (13), Menezes (11) and
Barbara Soranzo (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil/Mestre Santa Barbara) (10). Rich tallied seven blocks, two solo.
Ashley Wells tallied a game-high 19 kills to lead the Skyhawks.
WNMU will return home for the next three matches beginning Friday night against CSU-Pueblo beginning at 7 p.m.
