Box Score SILVER CITY, N.M. – It took four sets but the Western New Mexico University volleyball team couldn't be stopped as they added another win in conference taking down Adams State University 3-1 (25-15, 25-21, 21-25, 25-18) Friday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action to remain undefeated and claim their eighth-straight win in front of a good-sized crowd.
WNMU (13-3, 8-0 RMAC) again utilized a stifling defense that limited the Grizzlies (3-12, 2-5 RMAC) to a .032 hitting percentage (41-36-154) and the Lady Mustangs added 13 blocks.
In the opening set, a service error helped break an early tie that sent WNMU in front for good.
Leeta Grap (Kamuela, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) added a kill and then a pair of ASU errors had the Lady Mustangs in front at 11-7. Ahead 14-12, another service error helped trigger what would turn out to be a 10-0 run with
Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy ),
Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) and
Sheila Menezes (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Escola Estadual Prof. Antonio Ablas Filho) collecting points during the stretch. The Grizzlies would claim a few points before an attack error gave WNMU the set at 25-15. The WNMU defense was tough right out of the gate holding ASU to a negative .108 hitting percentage (8-12-37).
The second set looked to be swinging towards the Grizzlies as they held a 19-14 advantage. McGhiey came through with a key kill and the Lady Mustangs were off.
Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow ) combined with
Melanie Hughes (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King Jr.) for a pair of blocks, Grap and Verrill added kills and then following a service ace by
Barbara Soranzo (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil/Mestre Santa Barbara), the Grizzlies were trailing 22-19 and were forced to take a timeout. WNMU made it a 9-0 run as they claimed the first point out of the break on a kill by Grap. Grap moved the Lady Mustangs a point away on a kill and then Rich closed the set with a solo block at 25-21.WNMU posted a .200 hitting percentage for the set (13-5-40).
In the third set, the Lady Mustangs quickly moved out to an 11-5 lead with Menezes, McGhiey, Verrill and Grap contributing key points. The Grizzlies refused to go away, as they slowly worked their way back to get to within a point at 20-19 and then closed the set on a 6-1 run for the 25-21 set win to move the match to the fourth.
WNMU responded strong in the fourth collecting a .257 hitting percentage (14-5-35) and held ASU to a .073 percentage (12-9-41). After moving ahead 10-7, WNMU continued to pile it on with Grap, Rich, McGhiey and
Morgan Lyneis (Victorville, CA/Apple Valley) all coming through with points to expand the lead to 17-9. ASU got back to within five down the stretch, but that would be as close as they would get with WNMU taking the set, 25-18, and the match, 3-1.
WNMU hit .168 for the match (50-26-143) as Grap led the way with 18 kills and hit .318. McGhiey added 13 kills and hit .300. Hughes added 28 assists and
Chyler Imai (Kapaau, HI/Kohala) tallied 14. On defense,
Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) had 17 digs, while a pair of Lady Mustangs went for double-digits including Grap with 16 and Hughes with 13. In terms of blocking, Rich had eight, with two coming solo.
Alex Parker led the Grizzlies with 12 kills and Katelyn Schwartz had 38 assists.
WNMU will look to keep it going Saturday night at 7 p.m. when they host Fort Lewis College. The Skyhawks picked up their first RMAC win of the season over New Mexico Highlands, 3-1, earlier tonight.
