Silver City, N.M. – Western New Mexico University's volleyball team played
two of their three games Friday, at the Angelo State Invitational, playing
against Midwestern State and Angelo State.
 
Mustangs totaled 116 digs on the day lead by Taliyah Balladares (Santa Fe, NM/Santa Fe High School) totaling 24. Head Coach Holly Watts credits her defense saying, "We played good defense all day and the digs show that."
 
Game 1-MSU
Despite winning their first set against Midwestern State, the Lady Mustangs of WNMU fell losing the match 3-1. The Mustangs were down as much as 16-8 in the first set, but work their way back eventually tying the set 25-25. Head Coach Holly Watts, challenged a critical call to keep the set tied 26-26, giving the momentum to WNMU, eventually winning 30-28.
 
"The way the team battled in a tough match was great. We gave up several runs but scored our runs too," said Watts.
 
In the second set, the Mustangs found themselves down early but continued to battle back. After MSU won the second set, they took the momentum and didn't look back. MSU won the third set 25-11 and the fourth set 25-12, taking the match 3-1.
 
"We kept putting ourselves in difficult positions and had to keep climbing back," said Watts.
 
Mustangs to Highlight:
B. Augustine: 11 kills, 16 digs, 1 block assist
A. Leon: 8 kills, 10 digs
M. McDonald: 6 kills, 6 digs, 2 block assist
H. Hertzog: 13 ast, 13 digs, 1 service ace
 
Game 2-ASU
Angelo State came out swinging, defeating the Mustangs 3-0. The Mustangs were led by Augustine's 8 kills. Balladeres and Leon led the Mustangs with 11 digs each, but couldn't stop the ASU's Kailyn Gilbreath or Delaney Fuller, who combined for 15 kills.
 
 "Angelo State had more offense than we could handle and we weren't able to generate much of any ourselves" concluded Watts.
 
ASU took the first set 25-10 and the second set 25-11, capturing the momentum for the third set. ASU got off to a hot start in the third set, but the Mustangs weren't going down too easily. WNMU kept battling and returning the ball before falling 25-17.
 
Mustangs to Highlight:
B. Augustine: 8 kills &5 digs
M. Roe: 5 kills & 1 block ast.
T. Balladares: 1 ast & 11 digs
 
The Lady Mustangs will be back on the court tomorrow at 1:00pm MT/2:00pm CT playing against the 3-6 Texas A&M-International Dust Devils.