LAS VEGAS, N.M. --- Coming off the program's best season in a dozen years, the New Mexico Highlands volleyball team and third-year head coach Dwight Combs look to build off of last year and continue the transformation from what was once a struggling Cowgirls volleyball program into a strong, consistent program built the right way.
 
NMHU starts that journey Friday as they open play at the Kathleen Brasfield Invitational in San Angelo, Texas.
 
"Right now we're most proud that the culture here is as healthy as it has been since I've been here," Combs said. "We have a program that's full of good kids – with a majority of our student-athletes from this state. If we can continue to grow the culture and develop and recruit players that are not only talented on the court, but in the classroom, then the success on the court will take care of itself."
 
The Cowgirls went 10-13 overall and 7-11 in RMAC play last season – one win away from reaching the postseason. It's the best winning percentage – both overall and in conference – for NMHU since 2005 when the Cowgirls went 19-8 overall and won 13 RMAC contests.


 
NMHU returns several key components from last year's team – including seniors Tiffany Matchett, Cynthia Norris and Julie Staffler.
 
"We are trying really hard to keep it rolling," Tiffany Matchett said. "We were only one game away from making the playoffs. … It felt good that we were just that one step away and with the team that we have and how committed we are … we're really excited to see what the season brings us this year."
 
Matchett led the Cowgirls in kills last season with 269 (3.28 per set) and was tied for second on the team in aces (19) and digs (232). Norris played in every set for NMHU last season and was third on the team with 199 kills, second in blocks (46) and tied for fourth with 18 aces. Staffler added 77 kills for the Cowgirls to go along with 48 digs.
 
The Cowgirls also return junior setter Celina Naranjo (65 assists, 114 digs, 18 aces), sophomore middle blockers Stacy Johnson (63 kills, 31 blocks) and Maddie Gould (20 kills, 16 blocks) and sophomore setter Samantha Sjogren (123 assists, 49 digs).
 
NMHU has 12 new players with two transfers (Gillian Muniz – Ottawa University, Bri Bradford – Seward County) and 10 freshman (Anissa Hernandez, Soleil Gandara, Elena Rivera, Camryn Nelson, Lauren Montoya, Trinity Saiz, Taley Ferrari, Tyra Pinnecoose, Keegan Lopez and Bayley Willis).
 
"We're going to have a lot more experience this year, plus at our (scrimmage) last weekend our freshman played well," Norris said. "They actually beat a junior college team so that was awesome. For us to be able to cheer them on from the bench was a cool experience."
 
The Cowgirls open the season with their first 11 games away from Las Vegas before playing their home opener Sept. 14 against Black Hills State.