ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - The Western New Mexico University Volleyball team traveled to the Duke Wells Center on Thursday afternoon for the Bettye Wallace Invite. The Mustangs would have two matchups against Southwest Baptist University (SBU) and University of West Alabama (UWA). WNMU would go 1-1 on the, falling in their to SBU, but sweeping UWA to give Head Coach Geno Frugoli is first win as the Mustangs Head Coach.
 
Southwest Baptist:

Jéssica Sales would lead the offense on the afternoon for the Mustangs with eight kills. Letícia Correa was setting up her teammates with ease gathering 29 assists. Lilouann Bechec (Cannes, France) recorded a season-high two aces as well.

On defense, Bechec had another impressive defensive performance with 18 digs. Jazmyne Walker (Las Vegas, NV/Legacy HS) and Correa protected the net valiantly with two blocks each.
 
The Mustangs and Bearcats would keep things close early with an 7-5 advantage for the Bearcats. From there the Bearcats would open things with a 13-5 run. SBU closed out the set 25-18.
 
Bearcats 1, Mustangs 0.

In set two, the Bearcats took advantage of a flat Mustangs team with an early 10-5 lead before a WNMU timeout. WNMU would respond by tying things up at 11. The Bearcats open things back up again before taking the set 25-18.
 
Bearcats 2, Mustangs 0.
 
For set number three the Mustangs would trading points with the Bearcats, eventually being all tied up 16-16. It was at that point that the Bearcats would run away from the Mustangs for a 25-18 set three win. 
 
Wildcats 3, Mustangs 0.
 
West Alabama:
 
Injured Senior Jazmyne Walker (Las Vegas, NV/Legacy HS) would tough this game out with multiple injuries and lead the Mustangs with 10 kills. Correa displayed a great sense of where her teammates were on the court with 27 assists. Janey Cortez (El Paso, TX/East Lake HS) added three aces as well. 
 
Bechec used her "spidy-senses" to record a season-high 20 digs. Walker set the tone up front with three blocks. 
 
In set one neither team would back down as they were all notched up at 25 a-piece. It took the right arm of Maria Osorio (Pereira, Colombia/Calasanz) to clinch the set for the Mustangs 34-32.
 
Mustangs 1, Tigers 0.
 
For set number two, the Tigers led early 6-4 on the Mustangs. This had the Mustangs deploy a 21-9 run to take set two, 25-15.
 
Mustangs 2, Tigers 0.
 
The Mustangs would take set three by storm, quickly going up 11-6 on the Tigers. After fending off a few runs, Osorio would end the match on a kill to give the Mustangs a 25-19 set win, a clean sweep of the Tigers, and their first win of the season.
 
Mustangs 3, Tigers 0.

The Mustangs will continue the Bettye Wallace Invite tomorrow with tournaments hosts Henderson State (5:30 PM MT).