LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- The New Mexico Highlands volleyball team used a stellar effort hitting and serving to sweep Fort Lewis 3-0 (27-25, 25-22, 25-21) Saturday night at Wilson Complex.
The Cowgirls (8-17 overall, 6-11 RMAC) used a .272 hitting percentage – second-best on the season – and committed no service errors on its way to the three-set victory.
Cynthia Norris led the way for the Cowgirls as she had 15 kills with only one hitting error while
Julie Staffler had 15 kills and just three hitting errors.
Tiffany Matchett added 14 kills while
Stacy Johnson had five and
Taley Ferrari finished with four.
The Cowgirls set the tone early, winning a closely contested first set against Fort Lewis (9-12, 9-8). The Skyhawks led 24-22 and had two set points, but a Fort Lewis service error and a kill by Johnson on a nice set from
Celina Naranjo tied the match 24-24. A block by Fort Lewis again gave the Skyhawks set point, but Johnson again came up with a kill to even the match at 25. That's when Norris blistered a kill and an attack error on the Skyhawks gave the Cowgirls the first set at 27-25.
The second set was just as close as it was even at 22-22 before a Fort Lewis serving error (the Skyhawks had four in the match), a kill by Staffler and a Fort Lewis attack error gave the Cowgirls a 25-22 victory.
The third set was even early at 10-10, but the Cowgirls went on a 7-1 run capped by a pair of kills from Staffler to take a 17-11 lead that it eventually turned into a 25-21 victory.
Naranjo led the Cowgirls with 27 assists while
Samantha Sjogren added 23. Matchett had a team-best 17 digs while
Trinity Saiz had 16. Staffler led the team with two of their four aces.
The Cowgirls cap their season at home 7 p.m. Friday as they host CSU-Pueblo at Wilson Complex.
