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Western New Mexico University Athletics

Western New Mexico University Athletics
Kelli McGhiey
Jay Hemphill, WNMU
3
Winner Regis University RUVB 1-0
2
Western N.M. WNMU 0-1
Winner
Regis University RUVB
1-0
3
Final
2
Western N.M. WNMU
0-1
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 5 F
Regis University RUVB 25 23 19 25 15 (3)
Western N.M. WNMU 19 25 25 16 10 (2)
0
Western N.M. WNMU 0-2
3
Winner Colorado Mesa CMVB 1-0
Western N.M. WNMU
0-2
0
Final
3
Colorado Mesa CMVB
1-0
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Western N.M. WNMU 15 17 19 (0)
Colorado Mesa CMVB 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Volleyball | | Brian Kortz

Lady Mustangs Play Pair of Tough Matches Against Former RMAC Foes

GOLDEN, Colo. – Having not seen both Regis and Colorado Mesa since 2015, the Western New Mexico University volleyball team looked to be in good shape against the Rangers before falling in five sets 3-2 (19-25, 25-23, 25-19, 16-25, 10-15). Then later in the afternoon, the Mavericks started early and never looked back in claiming the 3-0 (15-25, 17-25, 19-25) win Friday during the first day of the Oredigger Classic.

In the opener of the season, the Lady Mustangs (0-2) played a pair of solid second and third sets, but Regis (2-0) rallied to claim the final two sets and the victory. Senior Kelli McGhiey (Pearl City, HI/Sacred Hearts Academy) paced the offense with 13 kills and added a team-best five blocks with one solo. New senior transfer Alanna Watt (Hague, Saskatchewan/Hague) added nine kills. Sophomore Cristal Carrizoza (Phoenix, AZ/North) dished out 26 assists, while senior Ashley Mataele (Laie, HI/Kahuku) recorded 24 digs.

With the first set knotted at five, the Rangers went on a 11-2 run to open a 16-7 advantage. WNMU tried to rally late, getting back to within four a couple of times, with the last coming at 23-19 on a double-block by freshmen Sarai Migao (Temecula, CA/Chaparral) and Delaney Seitz (Hillsboro, OR/Century). Regis closed the set getting a pair of kills for the 25-19 set win.

McGhiey then started to take over in the second set as she posted four kills over the first six WNMU points to open a 6-2 lead. Still in control throughout most of the set, the Rangers fought their way back to take a lead at 23-21. Migao got the Lady Mustangs back on track with a kill and after McGhiey tied the set at 23 with another kill, an attack error by the Rangers set the table for McGhiey to close the set with a kill at 25-23 to even the match at one.

The momentum carried right over into the third set with McGhiey picking up a pair of quick kills, around a pair of errors by the Rangers to move in front 7-1. Watt, Carrizoza and junior transfer Kijana Best (San Francisco, CA/Mercy) also picked up points. Regis trimmed the deficit back to two at 13-11, but the Lady Mustangs didn't let the lead slip away this time, as they went on a 3-0 run and never looked back. Migao capped the set with a kill at 25-19 to push WNMU to the 2-1 lead.

It was a new-look Ranger team out of the break as they bolted out to a 11-5 lead forcing a WNMU timeout. Migao brought the Lady Mustangs back to within three at 19-16 with a kill, but the Rangers went on a 6-0 run to finish the set at 25-16 and force a decisive fifth set.

McGhiey and sophomore Hannah Tishlarich (Elk Grove, CA/Pleasant Grove) opened the final frame strong combining for a double-block. After that, it was all Rangers as they went on a 6-0 run to force a WNMU timeout. The Lady Mustangs responded out of the timeout, pulling back to within three a couple of times, once at 9-6 on a kill by Seitz and then again at 10-7 following a service error. Regis buckled down, finishing the set on a 5-3 run to take the set 15-10 and the match at 3-2.

Regis had a trio of players reach double-digits in kills led by 16 from Nikki Kennedy. Caitlyn Burroway added 14 and Kelsey Green with 13. Silvia Basso had 51 assists, while Kennedy sent back six blocks, with two solo.

In the final game of the day Friday WNMU went against Colorado Mesa. Migao and Watt led the team with five kills apiece, with Carrizoza posting 15 assists. Mataele had nine digs and Tishlarich sent back two blocks.

Migao and Tishlarich started the match with a double-block and following a Colorado Mesa (1-0) attack error at two-all, the Mavericks began to take off pushing the lead to six at 13-7. Migao brought WNMU back to within four at 13-9, but the Lady Mustangs wouldn't get any closer with the Mavericks claiming the set at 25-15. Colorado Mesa hit a sizzling .429 with 17 kills to just two errors in the opening frame.

WNMU moved in front 3-2 early in the second set following a service ace by Watt. After McGhiey tied the set at five with a kill, Colorado Mesa caught fire again just like the first set moving in front 12-6 after a 7-1 spurt. Junior Aspen Luna (Rota, Spain/Farragut), returning to the team after missing last year due to injury, collected a kill to trim the deficit back to three at 15-12. The Mavericks kept the pressure on and answered with a 4-0 run on their way to taking the set at 25-17 to open a 2-0 match lead.

For the first time in the match, the Lady Mustangs were able to get ahead by more than a point as a Best kill gave WNMU an 8-6 lead in the third. After trading points, a double-block by Tishlarich and Watt had the Lady Mustangs back in front 16-15. Following a service ace by sophomore Erin Moss (Honolulu, HI/University Laboratory School) to get back to within one at 19-18, Colorado Mesa closed the set on a 6-1 run for the 25-19 set win and 3-0 match victory.

Mackenzie Edwards paced a Maverick offense that hit .324 with 11 kills. Samantha Ritter passed out 39 assists, while Natalee Todd sent back five blocks, with two solo.

WNMU will close the Oredigger Classic Saturday starting with No. 13 Wayne State (Neb.) at 9 a.m. and then host No. 19 Colorado Mines at 3:30 p.m.
 
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