SAN ANGELO, Tex. – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team opened the 2015 season in style coming away with a pair of 3-1 victories, first against Newman, before defeating Texas-Permian Basin Friday at the Angelo State University Invitational.

In the first match of the year against Newman, WNMU claimed the 3-1 victory (25-16, 20-25, 25-21, 26-24) and controlled the opening set from the onset, quickly moving ahead to a 4-0 lead with a kill by Heather Verrill (Barstow, CA/Barstow ), a service ace from Shannon Rich (Folsom, CA/Folsom) and a pair of attack errors from the Jets.

Newman came back with a little spurt before a kill by Sheila Menezes (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Escola Estadual Prof. Antonio Ablas Filho) and more attack errors had the lead at 12-7. Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy ) and Rich would combine to help push the advantage to six, 17-11. Menezes and McGhiey kept the offense humming as they added back-to-back kills to end the set giving the Lady Mustangs the 25-16 first set win.

Set two started well for WNMU before Newman grabbed a 7-4 lead. A Rich kill helped push WNMU in front at 10-9. That would end up being the last lead of the set for WNMU as the Lady Mustangs would get as close as two at 20-18 on a bad set error before the Jets closed for the 25-20 set win.

In the pivotal third set, the teams would post several ties before the Lady Mustangs were able to pull away. Knotted at 20, Verrill delivered a kill to put WNMU ahead for good the rest of the way. Following an attack error, Aspen Luna (Rota, Spain/Farragut) and Rich added kills to set the table for Morgan Lyneis (Victorville, CA/Apple Valley)' set ending kill at 25-21.

The fourth set was close throughout just like the third. A Menezes kill at 18-16 look to have WNMU in control, before Newman came storming back to take a 23-20 lead. After a WNMU timeout, the Lady Mustangs regrouped reeling off four straight points, two on kills by Verrill and Grap and two attack errors to move one point away from the match at 24-23. The Jets then tied the set at 24 leading to an attack error and then a match-clinching kill by Kelsie Bailey (Albuquerque, NM/El Dorado) to boost WNMU to the 26-24 set win and 3-1 match victory.

For the match, WNMU collected 50 kills, reaching double-digits in every set. They hit .170 for the match and also added five blocks, 48 assists and 94 digs. McGhiey led in kills with 10, while Rich added nine and eight apiece from Menezes and Grap. Melanie Hughes (Riverside, CA/Martin Luther King Jr.) dished out a team-high 36 assists, while Rich and Menezes added three blocks and Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) posted a team-high 28 digs.

The second match belonged to the Lady Mustangs after the first. In the opening set against the Falcons, WNMU fell behind 7-1 early on. The Lady Mustangs came back to within three on a couple of occasions, first at 13-10 and then again at 19-16 on a service ace by Hughes. WNMU made one last run late in the match, as UTPB had set point, but the Lady Mustangs roared back at 24-18 to get back to within two at 24-22 on a double-block from Hughes and Rich. The Falcons, though, eventually would hold on for the 25-22 set win.

In the second set, it was a reversal of fortune for the Lady Mustangs, as they started early and never looked back. They quickly took a 14-7 lead on a kill by Grap and after a small run by the Falcons, Grap closed the set with a pair of kills for the 25-19 set win and tie the match at one.

The third set was just about the same as a Hughes kill had WNMU ahead 13-8. With the Lady Mustangs still in front 18-15, that would turn out to be the last point for the Falcons as WNMU closed the set on a 7-0 run getting contributions from Menezes, Grap, Verrill and Hughes for the 25-15 set win and 2-1 match lead.

With all the momentum on the side of WNMU, there was no letting up in the fourth set. Grap again came through with more kills that had the Lady Mustangs enjoying a 12-5 lead. After UTPB got back to within four at 17-13, the Lady Mustangs wouldn't look back as they took advantage of several attacking errors before Verrill sealed the set and the match with a kill for the 25-16 set win and 3-1 match victory.

WNMU recorded 56 kills, 98 digs and eight blocks in the match with Grap leading the way with 20 kills and she also added 20 digs. Verrill added 14 kills and five blocks, while Rich recorded eight kills and three blocks. Hughes posted 36 assists and Mataele dug out a team-high 27 digs. Chyler Imai (Kapaau, HI/Kohala) added 15 digs in the victory.

WNMU, now 2-0 on the season, will play two more matches on Saturday against Angelo State and Tarleton State. Live stats will be available for both matches, while live video will be available against Angelo State only.