OCT. 31 vs. COLORADO MESA: LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATS
NOV. 1 vs. FORT LEWIS: LIVE VIDEO | LIVE STATSLAS VEGAS, N.M. – The New Mexico Highlands volleyball team (10-14, 5-9 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) is in the stretch run in a battle to make the conference tournament as the Cowgirls host conference-leading Colorado Mesa (20-3, 13-1 RMAC) Friday (Oct. 31) and Fort Lewis (6-16, 3-11 RMAC) Saturday (Nov. 1). Both matches are set for 7 p.m.
The Cowgirls currently sit two games out of the final RMAC Tournament spot while Colorado Mesa is in a three-way tie for the top spot. Any loss by Fort Lewis the rest of the season eliminates them from postseason.
Celebrating the Seniors On Saturday (Nov. 1) against Fort Lewis, the volleyball team will recognize all the contributions of its three seniors:
Jessica Piper,
Alicia Moreno and
Elizabeth Gomez.
"This senior class, as small as it is, will be quite difficult to fully replace." head coach
Bryan Crawford said. "They all have such a passion for the sport that I hope every other player sees and carries on when they are gone. These seniors have been the anchor this season with all the ups and downs of the younger athletes."
Piper has been a stalwart in the back row for the Cowgirls in the last two seasons after beginning her collegiate career with Colby Community College. In her first seasons, she finished third in the RMAC and 87th in the nation with 4.69 digs per set. She also recorded a career-best 34 digs against Eastern New Mexico that season, a feat she repeated in 2014 against CSU-Pueblo in 2014. After hovering around four digs a set this season, she has 141 digs in her last 28 sets played (5.03 digs per set) to bump her season average up to 4.30.
"Jessica has been a solid rock defensively for the Cowgirl program. She is a great competitor that never complains and always works hard. It will be tough to fill her shoes and the role she has played as captain these past two seasons," Crawford said.
Moreno came to the volleyball program in 2013 after playing for Coach Crawford at Iowa Central Community College. Moreno has 16 double-doubles in her Highlands career (kills and digs), including the last two matches. She has a career-best 21 kills against Fort Lewis and 21 digs against Southwestern Oklahoma last season. She has double-digit kills in seven of her last eight matches.
"Alicia is one of the most gifted athletes I've worked with," Crawford explained. "Her knowledge and vision of the game is well beyond her peers. She has been a constant performer both offensively and defensively. Alicia is a great all-around player."
Finally, Gomez is finishing her third season with the Cowgirls, playing one match for former head coach
Jim Deisler in 2011 before finishing her career with Coach Crawford in 2012 and 2014. She has played in 38 matches for the Cowgirls, including 38 this year. Gomez is a local product, having graduated from Pojoaque Valley HS.
"Liz is one of the best kids you'll ever meet as gives her best effort in everything she attempts," Crawford stated. "Liz is one of the most coachable, happy, hard-working student-athletes I've had the privilege to coach."
Next Up The New Mexico Highlands volleyball team closes out the 2014 regular season next weekend when it travels to take on CSU-Pueblo and Western State.
