SILVER CITY, N.M. – After dropping the first set by 12, the Cowgirls had two close losses in sets two and three as New Mexico Highlands (10-13, 5-8 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) lost to Western New Mexico (8-12, 5-8 RMAC) in straight set 25-13, 25-23, 25-23.
The story of the game was at the block as the Mustangs claimed the category 13-3 after losing the battle at the net in Las Vegas last month. Heather Verrill of Western New Mexico had a hand in 10 of the blocks, including nine through the first two sets.
After falling by 12 in set one, the Cowgirls rallied in the second with four straight points to know the score at 16. Down 16-12, freshman
Talise Babbitt killed an overpass. Two attack errors and a kill from freshman
Shayli Schulz tied the match at 16. Tied at 18, Western New Mexico's Leeta Garp and Lauren Busement recorded kills and a New Mexico Highland attack error put the home team up three. Freshman
Kristin Woody recorded a kill and a freshman
Tianna Matthews-Woody block brought the visitors within one, but the Cowgirls climbed no closer as the dropped the second set by a pair.
Down 18-14 in the final frame, Highlands fought back but could not tie the score. The small rally was started by a kill from senior
Alicia Moreno. For the match, Moreno recorded her fifth double-double of the season with a game-high 11 kills and also had 10 digs. After an attack error by the Mustangs, both teams sided out to make the score 19-17. Woody brought the Cowgirls within one on a kill but could climb no closer. Western New Mexico won the finale 25-23.
Highlands actually out-attacked the home team 40-37, but 24 hitting errors by the Cowgirls compared to 10 for the Mustangs proved to be the difference.
The Cowgirls return to action Saturday (Oct. 25) at 7 p.m. against Adams State.
