COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The streak came to an end Friday night as the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs claimed a 3-0 victory (25-19, 25-20, 25-21) over the Western New Mexico University volleyball team in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action. The Lady Mustangs had won the first nine matches to start the conference slate.

WNMU (14-4, 9-1 RMAC) held leads at one point in each set, but weren't able to claim one. Outside of a .296 strong hitting percentage in the second set, the Lady Mustangs were held to even or negative hitting numbers in the other two sets to finish with a .079 clip (27-20-89). UCCS (13-6, 8-2 RMAC) on the other hand came away with a .186 hitting percentage (42-21-113).

In the opening set, WNMU had a pair of early leads with the last one coming at 12-11 on a double-block by Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) and Taryn Schriner (Dayton, NV/Dayton ). The Mountain Lions then caught fire the rest of the set with WNMU getting back to within three a pair of times before UCCS took the 25-19 set win.

Rich got things going in the second set with a kill, but that would be the one and only lead of the set for the Lady Mustangs. With UCCS holding a 14-8 lead forcing a WNMU timeout, the Lady Mustangs would eventually work their way back into the set as a Leeta Grap (Kamuela, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) kill had them within two at 19-17. UCCS responded taking six of the next nine points for the 25-20 set win. The second set featured the best hitting by both teams with WNMU posting their .296, while UCCS answered with a .317 percentage.

Grap ignited a strong 3-0 start to the third set with a pair of kills. The lead expanded to 8-2 on a string of Mountain Lion errors with the last one coming on a double-block by Morgan Lyneis (Victorville, CA/Apple Valley) and Rich. WNMU continued to keep the advantage at 15-12 on another kill by Grap. UCCS came storming back with a 6-0 run to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish the rest of the way. The Lady Mustangs didn't go down quietly as they fought back to within a point at 22-21 on a service error before UCCS went on a 3-0 run to take the set, 25-21, and the match.

Grap led the offense with 11 kills, while Chyler Imai (Kapaau, HI/Kohala) (13) and Opal Drapeau (Denver, CO/Bishop Machebeuf Catholic ) (11) led in assists. On defense, Grap had 10 digs and in terms of blocking, Rich had three with one solo. Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy ) also added a solo block.

Kim Catlett powered the UCCS attack going for 15 kills while Taylor Hamilton added 10. Cassidy Bush added three blocks as both teams had five total team blocks.

WNMU will turn around and play at MSU Denver on Saturday afternoon beginning at 4 p.m. The Roadrunners claimed a 3-0 win over New Mexico Highlands tonight.