ALAMOSA, Colo. – The Cowgirls took set one, but the Grizzlies took the final three sets as the New Mexico Highlands volleyball team (10-14, 5-9 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) fell to Adams State (13-10, 7-7 RMAC) 22-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-10 Saturday night (Oct. 25).
Tied at 19 in set one, Highlands scored 5-of-7 to put themselves on three set points. Freshman
Katie Trammel started off with a kill and classmate
Tianna Matthews added a solo block. After both teams sided out, the Cowgirls went up 23-20 on an attack error. After a point from Adams State, freshman
Kristin Woody put the visitors on set point with a kill. After a Lindsey Stindt kill for Adams State, freshman
Talise Babbitt ended the set with a kill.
Woody, Babbitt and senior
Alicia Moreno all led the Cowgirls with 10 kills each. Moreno finished the double-double as she co-led with senior
Jessica Piper with 18 digs.
Set two saw the Grizzlies take a lead they did not relinquish. Leah Nelson, who had 12 kills in the match, jump-started Adams State with a kill that ignited a 7-1 run. Four Cowgirls attack errors, a Mallory Grimsrud kill and an ace from Savannah Smith put the home team up 7-1. Highlands could climb no closer than three in a 25-22 set two loss.
In set three, Adams State scored the first five points before Highlands answered with the next seven. Tied at 16, Alex Parker recorded a kill before Parker teamed up with Nina Mody-Baliey for the block. Both teams traded a pair of sideouts before two errors by the Cowgirls put Adams State up 22-18. Kills by Grimsrud and Lindsey Stindt – who had a match-best 16 kills – put the home team up two set to one.
Grimsrud had 10 kills while Nelson and Parker (11) also reached double-digit kills for the Grizzlies. Katelyn Schwartz completed the double-double with 46 assists and 10 digs.
The hitting percentage for the Cowgirls went down every set before the Grizzlies hit a blazing .438 compared to Highlands negative-.088 in the final frame as the home team won the final set by 15.
The Cowgirls return to action Friday (Oct. 31) against nationally-ranked Colorado Mesa. Match time is set for 7 p.m.
