PHOENIX, Ariz. – Following a close opening set, the Western New Mexico University volleyball team cruised over the next two sets to sweep William Jessup University, 3-0 (25-19, 25-10, 25-9) Saturday afternoon.

WNMU (3-4) came out ready from the start jumping out to a 5-0 first set lead behind double-blocks from sophomore Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom), senior Lauren Buseman (Eagar, AZ/Round Valley) and junior Leeta Grap (Kamuela, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy). WJU (0-9) would come back to tie the set a couple of times before the Lady Mustangs would begin to pull away. Ahead by two, 19-17, a Buseman kill, followed by kills from junior Sheila Menezes (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Escola Estadual Prof. Antonio Ablas Filho) and Rich expanded the lead to five, 22-17. The Warriors would come back with the next two points before a double-block by Rich and freshman Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow ) would trigger a 3-0 run to close the set. Freshman Morgan Lyneis (Victorville, CA/Apple Valley) and Verrill combined for the last point for the 25-19 set win.

WNMU then rode the momentum into the next two sets. In the second, Menezes posted a kill to give WNMU an 8-3 lead. WJU would later get back to within six at 15-9, but the Lady Mustangs were not to be denied finishing on a 10-1 run for the 25-10 set win. Lyneis, Menezes, Verrill, sophomore Taj Kirah Wallace (El Paso, TX/Irvin) and redshirt freshman Taimane Passi (Honolulu, HI/Iolani) contributed points during the run.

WNMU delivered a .375 hitting percentage in the second set thanks to 12 kills to just two errors in 24 chances.

In the third set, it was a 15-5 set right out of the gates, with the Lady Mustangs busting open a 9-5 set. Rich tallied three points during the 6-0 run. WNMU continued with the pressure with Wallace closing the set with a kill at 25-9. The Lady Mustangs had another over .300 hitting percentage in the set hitting at a .304 clip (11 kills to four errors in 23 chances).

While the offense performed well, the defense collected 12 blocks to just two for the Warriors. Menezes ripped off a .600 hitting percentage thanks to 12 kills and zero errors in 20 chances. Freshman Kylie Fraga (Kennewick, WA/Southridge) had 25 assists and three service aces. Grap recorded nine digs to eight for junior Barbara Soranzo (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil/Mestre Santa Barbara). Verrill sent back six block assists.

Kelsie Hills led WJU with six kills.

After seven matches on the road to start the season, WNMU will return home this coming week as they will open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play against Colorado School of Mines on Thursday night at 7 p.m. inside Drag's Court.