Box Score The Cowgirls fell to RMAC West competitor Colorado State University- Pueblo (2-3 in the RMAC and 11-4 overall) in three sets (25-23, 25-19, 27-25) Tuesday night, 9/25, at John A. Wilson Complex in Las Vegas, N.M.
With a competitive first set, the Cowgirls came out hitting a .424 attack percentage and had 17 kills. Both teams were fighting to establish a lead thru the first set but CSU-Pueblo came out with a little more steam taking a four point lead 14-10 going into a Highlands timeout. NMHU didn't give up without a fight making it a nail bitter, 23-23, before a Pueblo timeout. After the timeout, theThunderwolves shut down the Cowgirls and finished the first set with the final score of 25-23.
The Cowgirls jumped to an early lead 5-3 in the begining of the second set. The Cowgirls seemed to have trouble with the Thunderwolves outside hitters as they earned three straight points off NMHU Cowgirl errors, to take a commanding lead 15-10. Eight of the CSU- Pueblo points were off of Highlands' mistakes in the second set. Giving all they had to keep the game close, the Cowgirls lost the set 25-19.
The final set of a three set match seemed to be in the Cowgirls' favor. They jumped out to a 7-3 lead before the Thunderwolves took a time out. NMHU was looking to have control of the set, but lost the lead to make it a 11-11 tie before a Highlands' timeout. The Cowgirls fought to prevent the Thunderwolves from capturing the lead. The final few points of the match is when it ended in a wild finish with a back and forth rallly to extend the set, putting the game on the line at 22-22. After an injury to junior Libero,
Katie Saavedra, the Cowgirls could not recover ending the game on two errors and letting the Thundrwolves prevail in the set and win 27-25.
Leading the way for the Cowgirls (2-3 in the RMAC and 6-8 overall) was junior Outside Hitter
Marina Samoa with 14 kills and 12 digs. The Cowgirls also received contributions from senior Middle Blocker
Sarah Dirmeyer with 11 kills, hitting a impressive .400 attack percentage. Cowgirl Setter Rae Mulitalo added 41 assists and three digs.
The Cowgirls' next game will be a conference match up against in-state rival Western New Mexico, on 9/28, in Silver City, N.M.
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GO COWGIRLS!!!
