Cowgirls open RMAC play with a sweep at Western State

GUNNISON, Colo. --- The New Mexico Highlands volleyball team started conference play on the right foot Friday night as it used a quick comeback at the end of the third set to complete a sweep of Western State Colorado on the road 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 26-24).
 
The Cowgirls (3-6 overall, 1-0 RMAC) trailed 23-17 in the third set after taking the first two sets handily from the Mountaineers (1-8, 0-1) before a kill from Julie Staffer, a WSC attack error and a kill from Cynthia Norris quickly cut the NMHU deficit to 23-20.
 

VB | Tiffany Matchett with the kill to give the Cowgirls a 21-16 lead in the first set over Western State. #LetsRide pic.twitter.com/LyIV8TfuPu

— NMHU Athletics (@NMHU_Athletics) September 8, 2018

 
After a Western State timeout, the Cowgirls committed a hitting error to give the Mountaineers game point at 24-20 before a service error, an attack error, a kill by Tiffany Matchett and another attack error evened the match at 24-24.
 
Freshman Camryn Nelson did the rest from the service line as back-to-back aces sealed the set and the match for the Cowgirls.
 
Matchett paced NMHU with nine kills to go along with two aces, two blocks and 15 digs, Staffler had seven kills, Cynthia Norris finished with six kills while Stacy Johnson, Taley Ferrari and Nelson had four kills with Nelson adding a team-high three aces. Celina Naranjo and Samantha Sjogren had 11 assists apiece for the Cowgirls while Elan Rivera added 14 digs.
 
The Cowgirls return to action 7 p.m. Saturday as they travel to take on Colorado Mesa.