Box Score SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team came out of the gates swinging Saturday night, taking the first two sets on their way to defeating Adams State University, 3-1, (25-20, 25-17, 24-26, 25-21) in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action inside Drag's Court.
The Lady Mustangs hit sizzling numbers of .286 and .357 in the first two sets. In the opening frame, WNMU (5-10, 2-6 RMAC) came back to turn a 12-10 deficit into a 15-12 lead with
Leeta Grap (Kamuela, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy),
Sheila Menezes (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Escola Estadual Prof. Antonio Ablas Filho),
Lauren Buseman (Eagar, AZ/Round Valley) and an attack error leading to the run. Still holding the lead late,
Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) posted a kill and an attack error gave the Lady Mustangs the 25-20 set victory.
The second set started early for WNMU, quickly jumping ahead 9-3. After ASU (8-8, 3-5 RMAC) came back to within a point at 14-13, Menezes,
Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow ) posted kills, while
Morgan Lyneis (Victorville, CA/Apple Valley) combined for blocks with Rich and
Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow ) for a 20-13 lead. WNMU would keep the pressure up on their way to claiming the 25-17 set victory. The Lady Mustangs used 15 kills in each of the first two sets.
In the third, the Grizzlies looked ready to take the set in front 21-16. WNMU, though, would come back strong to nearly complete the sweep. Out of a WNMU timeout, Verrill and
Allison Lemnitzer (Phoenix, AZ/Valley Lutheran) combined for a block and then three attack errors by ASU would bring the Lady Mustangs to within one at 21-20. A later error by the Grizzlies would tie the set at 23 and after Buseman posted a kill helped WNMU re-tie the set at 24, a bad set and a double-block by ASU would give the Grizzlies a 26-24 set win and force a fourth set.
The Grizzlies came out ready in the fourth set, jumping in front 15-10. WNMU would chip away, getting back to tie the set at 21 after a Grap kill and a bad set by ASU. From that point on, it was all WNMU as Buseman pounded a kill, Rich would drill a pair of kills and then a service ace by Grap sealed the 25-21 set win and 3-1 match victory.
Verrill couldn't miss, as she drilled 13 kills to zero errors in 17 chances for a .765 hitting percentage. Rich hit .368 posting 11 kills to four errors in 19 chances. Buseman added a .333 hitting night with eight kills to three errors in 15 chances.
Kylie Fraga (Kennewick, WA/Southridge) (27) and
Melanie Hughes (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King Jr.) (20) set the table leading the way in assists. Grap tallied 10 digs, while Hughes added nine. WNMU had nine blocks as a team with Verrill leading with six.
Mallory Grimsrud had a solid game for the Grizzlies tallying 12 kills and a .524 hitting percentage.
WNMU will return to the road this coming week as they will play at #20 Colorado Mesa Friday night at 7 p.m. They will finish the trip Saturday at Fort Lewis beginning at 7 p.m.
