Gunnison, Colorado–The Cowgirls opened their season in Gunnison, Colorado today in the Virginia Harris/Jeanie Miller invitational
 
Game One: vs. Lubbock Christian Lady Chapparals (LCU)
The Cowgirls got out to a hot start going on a five-point run to make it 7-3 in the first set as Duda Carvalho and Elise Fourt led the way in that run with each one of them having a kill and getting a duo block in the first set. After the two teams exchanged a multitude of points the Cowgirls went on another four-point run. However, LCU then went on a six-point run then after a couple of points the Lady Chaparrals went on a pair of three and two point runs for them to capture the victory in set one at 25-20.
 
Set Two started out in the two teams exchanging blows in the beginning of the set the Lady Chaparrals took advantage of a couple of mistakes on the Cowgirls side and the Chaparrals used that to their advantage to take the lead and run with it. Despite putting up a good fight with their backs against the wall the Lady Chaparrals were able to capture the victory in set two.
 
Backs against the wall now with the match on the line down two sets the Cowgirls had to get off to the right start. After being knotted up at two a run of five points would get the Cowgirls a 7-2 lead in the third set. The Lady Chaparrals then went on a three-point run and exchanged points with the Cowgirls, but an eight-point run would give LCU the lead and they would run away with the third set after that and capture the victory 3-0.
 
Game Two: at Western Colorado Mountaineers (WCU)
Set one got off to a good start for Western Colorado and after a timeout the Cowgirls found a little momentum to make it a closer game. The Mountaineers went on a five point run following the timeout the Cowgirls were able to gain a bit of momentum Lea Süsoy had three points in the first set for the Cowgirls as they were able to pickup a bit of momentum late in the first set trailing only three however the Mountaineers would walk away with the victory in the first set.

The second set gained an early 6-3 lead before a Western Colorado timeout. Followed by a heated exchange of points between the two teams as it would seem no team would get a big enough lead to pull away as the two teams would just continue to exchange blows. The Cowgirls would go on a quick three-point run would continue to give the Cowgirls as a lead would begin to grow for the Cowgirls which would lead to Western Colorado taking their second time out trailing 12-7.The Mountaineers would trail for a majority of the set but an eight point run would recapture the lead for Western Colorado and they would continue to ride that wave of momentum despite Cowgirl efforts and a three point run the Mountaineers would close the set with a four point run to make to a 2-0 set lead.

The third and final set was the most back and forth set of the evening as neither team could seem to get an inch of breathing room as they continued to battle serve in and serve out.  Western Colorado had the largest lead of the set at 10-7 early in the set. As the Cowgirls did fight back in third set but on their home floor Western Colorado would capture the set and the match.

The Cowgirls fall to 0-2. Duda Carvalho had 15 kills in the two matches today followed by Aziza Morris who had 14 kills and then Süsoy had 12 to round out the kill leaders for the Cowgirls.

UP NEXT: The Cowgirls will finish out the trip Saturday in Gunnison facing Southwestern Oklahoma State at 9 AM followed by Sul Ross State at 4:30