CHADRON, Neb./COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo./DENVER, Colo. – In what will be the longest road trip of the regular season, the Western New Mexico University volleyball team will embark on three matches this week in two states.

WNMU will travel to Nebraska to face Chadron State on Thursday at 6 p.m. After that, a trip to Colorado to battle UC-Colorado Springs on Friday at 7 p.m., before closing the trip on Saturday in Denver against MSU-Denver on Saturday at 4 p.m.

The Eagles are 2-9 overall and 1-2 in the RMAC with a win against Western State on Sep. 19 (3-0). They also have a win against the University of Mary (3-0). This will be Chadron State's first home match of the season. The Eagles are led by Lelalelei Nomura who has 111 kills, while Erika Roybal has 92 kills. Mariah Conyers leads the team in assists with 179. On defense, Alyssa Bauer (126) and Brittany Oddo (102) lead the team in digs, while Alia Brennan has 27 blocks. The Lady Mustangs defeated Chadron State last year in Chadron, 3-0.

The Mountain Lions are 4-7 overall and 1-2 in the RMAC having defeated Western State (3-1). They came close in another conference match at CSU-Pueblo, falling in five sets. UCCS has a 3-1 home mark after hosting the Steel and Silver Classic where they defeated Lindenwood, Pittsburg State and Alaska. On offense, Kim Catlett leads the team in kills with 166, while Lauren Hahn has 117 and Cassidy Bush has added another 105. Celeste Henderson sets the offense with 430 assists. On defense, Catlett leads the way with 151 digs, while Natasha Habert has 124. Madison Palmer has 22 total blocks. The Lady Mustangs defeated UCCS last year in Silver City, 3-0.

The final match will be against the Roadrunners of Metro State, who are currently receiving votes in the AVCA poll. MSU-Denver is 9-2 overall and 3-0 in the conference coming away with a sweep last week of RMAC foes in New Mexico Highlands (3-1), CSU-Pueblo (3-1) and Adams State (3-2). They currently hold a 2-2 home mark with wins against Florida Southern (3-2) and Central Missouri (3-0). Lauren Quijano powers the offense with 176 kills, while Kylie Haun has added 121. Brandi Torr has dished out 495 assists. On defense, Savannah Garcia has 167 digs, while Summer Greager has added 101. In terms of blocking, Quijano has 36, while Vasati Fiatoa has 30. WNMU and MSU-Denver battled twice last year with the Lady Mustangs winning in Silver City the first time, 3-0, before the Roadrunners came back in the RMAC Tournament match that was also played in Silver City for the 3-2 victory.

WNMU holds a 4-6 overall record and 1-2 in the RMAC after defeating Colorado Christian this past weekend in five, before falling to Colorado Mines (3-1) and Regis (3-0). Junior Leeta Grap (Kamuela, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) leads the offense with 92 kills, while freshman Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow ) has added 74 kills and 71 for sophomore Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom). Freshman Kylie Fraga (Kennewick, WA/Southridge) leads the team in assists with 224, with freshman Melanie Hughes (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King Jr.) adding 74. On defense, junior Barbara Soranzo (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil/Mestre Santa Barbara) has 122 digs to lead the squad, just ahead of the 120 by Grap. Verrill leads in blocks with 39, while Rich has added 30 and senior Lauren Buseman (Eagar, AZ/Round Valley) has 29.

Live stats and video will be available for all three matches.