Women's Volleyball lose to Chadron and MSU Denver, travel to Utah

Las Vegas, NM --- The New Mexico Highlands volleyball team dropped a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matches this weekend as they fell to Chadron State 3-2 on Friday night and MSU Denver 3-0 on Saturday night.

AGAINST CHADRON STATE: The Cowgirls would win the first set (25-23) after trailing 19-18. The run was sparked by Sierra Foley who scored 4 of the 7 next points for the Cowgirls. The Eagles would go on to win the second set 25-21 and the Cowgirls would take the third set 26-24. In the fourth set, the Cowgirls would start out hot to take an early 6-1 lead. The Eagles would rally back to tie the set at 23. The Cowgirls would find themselves with match point over the Eagles, but failed to stop the attack from CSC Aracely Hernandez and the Eagles would win the set 28-26. The fifth set was a thriller as the Eagles took a late 12-7 lead over the Cowgirls and eventually took the set 15-8.

Four Cowgirls finished with double-digit kills with Keegan Lopez (21), Bayley Willis (13), Sierra Foley (11), and Taley Ferrari (10). Willis and Ferrari also led the way at the net with 9 and 8 blocks, respectively. Bryanna Lopez recorded 31 digs, her second highest this season. Senior Celina Naranjo tallied a season high 38 assists on the night.

AGAINST MSU DENVER: The Roadrunners came in to the match ranked second in the conference and came to Las Vegas to take care of business, but not without a fight. The Roadrunners would win the match in three sets (25-16, 25-21, 25-17), but the Cowgirls gave them a run for their money in the second set as the Cowgirls edged a 17-15 lead, but the Roadrunners would storm a comeback and win the set 25-21.

Taley Ferrari finished with 8 kills and three blocks to lead the Cowgirls. Keegan Lopez (6 kills and a block), Bayley Willis (5 kills), and Bryanna Lopez (14 digs) would all aid the Cowgirls in their efforts.
  UP NEXT: The Cowgirls will be on the road this weekend in Utah where they will take on Dixie State on Friday at 7 pm and Westminster on Saturday at 4 pm.

ABOUT DIXIE STATE: The Trailblazers (15-6, 10-3 RMAC) are looking to keep their home court advantage alive as they are currently ranked third in RMAC standings. The Trailblazers have 4players with 100+ kills- To'a Faleao (200 kills, 38 blocks), Megan Treanor (183 kills, 56 blocks), Lauren Gammell (155 kills, 109 blocks), and Sydney Johnson (148, 30 blocks).

ABOUT WESTMINSTER: The Griffins (4-17, 1-12 RMAC) are coming off their first conference win of the season against Western State. For the Griffins, Audrey Green (251 kills, 29 blocks), Lydia Miller (165 kills, 21 blocks), and Sydnee Simmons (122 kills, 41 blocks) will look to lead the way offensively. Hannah Stearman handles the defense as she leads the team in digs with 297 on the season.

GO COWGIRLS!!