SILVER CITY, N.M. – After a strong start to the season on the road, the Western New Mexico University volleyball team returns home for their home openers this Friday and Saturday to begin RMAC action.

The Lady Mustangs went 5-3 over the first eight matches of the season and will look forward to playing at home against Colorado State University-Pueblo and Western State Colorado University.

Senior Leeta Grap (Kamuela, HI/Hawaii Preparatory Academy) has already collected a pair of All-Tournament Team accolades and was recently named the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week. She leads the team in kills (132), kills per set (4.26) and has also added a second-best 94 digs, eight blocks, seven assists and five service aces. Nationally she ranks 23^rd in attacks per set (11.29), 32^nd in both digs per set and points per set (4.56), 20^th in total attacks (350) and 12^th in total kills. She is ranked second in the RMAC in all five categories. Sophomore Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow ) leads the team in total blocks (26), while adding a second-best 66 kills and eight digs. She ranks 197^th nationally in blocks per set (0.84) and 142^nd in hitting percentage (.311). She is ninth and third in the RMAC in both categories, respectively. Sophomore Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) leads the way in digs with 169 (5.45 per set) and has also added 14 assists and six service aces. She leads the RMAC and is ranked 18^th nationally in total digs. Sophomore Melanie Hughes (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King Jr.) leads in assists with 280 (9.03 per set) and is third on the team in digs with 66. WNMU has five other players with at least 22 kills in junior Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) (51), senior Sheila Menezes (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Escola Estadual Prof. Antonio Ablas Filho) (46), sophomore Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy ) (36), sophomore Morgan Lyneis (Victorville, CA/Apple Valley) (31) and sophomore Kalie Lyle (Phoenix, AZ/Sandra Day O' Connor ) (22).

As a team, the Lady Mustangs are ranked seventh in digs per set (19.71), second in the RMAC, sixth in team attacks per set (40.97), second in the RMAC and ninth in team kills (410), third in the RMAC. WNMU leads the RMAC in opponents hitting percentage (.134).

The ThunderWolves will be the first ones into Drag's Court on Friday night at 7 p.m. They are currently 2-6 on the season with wins over Eastern New Mexico and St. Edward's. They came close against a pair of ranked teams in West Texas A&M and Washburn, dropping both in five sets.

Mariangel Perez leads the team in kills with 102 and in digs with 87. Alex Sansavera and Elena Michalski handle the setup duties with Sansavera tallying 172 to 147 for Michalski. Oni Lattin, the reigning RMAC Defensive Player of the Week has 49 total blocks, 16 solo to lead the team.

Last year, CSU-Pueblo swept the series winning 3-1 in Silver City and then 3-0 in Pueblo.

To conclude the weekend on Saturday night also at 7 p.m. the Lady Mustangs will go against the Western State Mountaineers. They are 2-8  on the season with wins against Illinois-Springfield and the University of Mary.

Jordan Eatwell leads the team in kills with 96 and also has 16 service aces. Amanda Maestas has 153 digs, while Avery Burkholder leads in blocks with 21.

Last year the teams split their matches with each winning on their home floors. WNMU claimed a 3-0 win in Silver City, while Western State took a 3-0 win in Gunnison.

Live video and stats will be available for both games.