LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Mustangs came in known as the strong blocking team, but it was the Cowgirls who got the last laugh at the net, 8-7.
New Mexico Highlands volleyball (6-10, 2-5 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) comfortably won set one and squeaked by in sets two and three for a 25-18, 25-23, 25-23 win over Western New Mexico (4-10, 1-6 RMAC) Tuesday night (Sept. 30) in the Wilson Complex.
The Mustangs came out swinging by winning the first two points and led 3-1 before a 6-1 run put the Cowgirls in control. Two sophomore
Andrea Nunez kills – she tallied a match-best 11 kills – quickly tied the match. Senior
Alicia Moreno hit an ace and a Mustangs error put the home team up 5-3. The Mustangs cut it to 7-6, but a 9-1 run virtually ended the frame. Freshman
Shayli Schulz had a pair of kills in the run, followed by solo points off of attacks from Nunez and freshman
Tianna Matthews. Matthews and Schulz teamed up for a block, followed by Moreno and Matthews. Matthews paced Highlands with a match-high five blocks.
The Cowgirls took set one by seven, outhitting the Mustangs .333-.100.
Western New Mexico held a lead through most of set two, but a 3-0 run in the middle of the frame gave Highlands the edge for good. Trailing 17-15, Matthews killed an overpass and Moreno successfully attacked Schulz set to tie the match. Nunez and Matthews provided the exclamation point with a block to give the Cowgirls an 18-17 lead.
With Highlands up 23-21, Sheila Menezes for the Mustangs tallied a pair of kills to tie the match and force a Highlands timeout. Menezes had nine kills for Western New Mexico while Leeta Garp added 10 to lead the team.
Tied at 23, Schulz record a pair of kills to put Highlands up a pair of sets heading into intermission. Schulz narrowly missed a double-double with 22 assists and nine kills, hitting .471 (one error on 17 attempts) in the process.
Set three was back and forth, but Highlands was able to force sideouts for the win. With Highlands clinging to a 23-22 lead, Schulz tallied a kill to put the Cowgirls on match point. Kelli McGhiey for Western Mew Mexico kept the Mustangs alive, but Nunez slammed the ball to end the match and give Highlands the win.
The Cowgirls hit a season-best .308 for the match, hitting north of .300 in both the first and second sets.
Highlands concludes the week Friday (Oct. 3) when it takes on Adams State in the Wilson Complex. Match time is set for 4 p.m.
