SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Regis University Rangers hit over .200 percent and used a solid blocking attack to defeat the Western New Mexico University volleyball team, 3-0, (25-16, 25-20, 25-22), Sunday afternoon in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.

RU (7-4, 2-1 RMAC), currently receiving votes in the latest AVCA poll, hit .218 for the match that included 47 kills and also 11 team blocks to take the match.

In the opening set, WNMU (4-6, 1-2 RMAC) held the early 5-3 lead before the Rangers would storm back with a 14-3 run to take a 17-8 advantage. The Lady Mustangs would get as close as eight a few times, but that would be as close as they would get with RU claiming the set, 25-16. The Rangers held a 16-5 edge in kills in the set.

In the second, WNMU again held the early advantage up 4-3. Still ahead at 5-4, the Rangers would come back to take the lead at 8-6. Although RU would still control the rest of the set, the Lady Mustangs would make a late run with freshmen, Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow ), Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy ) and Morgan Lyneis (Victorville, CA/Apple Valley) with kills to cut the deficit to three, 23-20. The Rangers would regroup and come through with a double-block and service ace for the 25-20 set win.

In the third, The Rangers jumped out early 7-3 before the Lady Mustangs would fight back. A solo block by sophomore Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) tied the set at eight. Later, an attack error gave WNMU a 12-11 lead. A Lyneis kill a few points later would help keep the Lady Mustangs in front, 13-12, before RU would tally he next four points to open a 16-13 lead. WNMU would keep coming at the Rangers, with freshman Kalie Lyle (Phoenix, AZ/Sandra Day O' Connor ) tallying a pair of kills, and after one from Rich, an attack error knotted the set at 19. RU would go on a 5-1 run to take a 24-20 lead. The Lady Mustangs would get points on a kill by Rich and double-block from Lyneis and Verrill to pull back to within two before the Rangers claimed the set, 25-22, and the match, 3-0.

Rich led WNMU with eight kills, while adding a pair of blocks. Freshmen Kylie Fraga (Kennewick, WA/Southridge) (15) and Melanie Hughes (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King Jr.) (9) led the team in assists. Lyle posted 10 digs to lead the way, while junior Leeta Grap (Kamuela, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) added nine.

WNMU will hit the road for three conference matches next week as they will play at Chadron State Thursday night at 6 p.m. They will also play at UC-Colorado Springs Friday and MSU-Denver Saturday.