DENVER, Colo. – Western State Colorado University volleyball earned a non-conference victory over Johnson and Wales University Thursday evening behind a career-high 20 kill performance by Tori Gaherty and career-high six aces by Jordan Eatwell. The match went to five sets (27-25, 25-27, 25-15, 25-23, 15-5), with the teams trading sets throughout the match. Sixteen Mountaineers saw action tonight in the non-conference match.
 
Gaherty is the first Mountaineer to reach the 20 kill mark this season, and the first since teammate Eatwell had 24 against Fort Lewis last October. She also had 16 digs.
 
Eatwell's six aces is the best serving performance by a Mountaineer since 2007 when Karissa Ball had seven aces in a September match against New Mexico Highlands.
 
Also for the Mountaineers, Hailey Rehage and Tayor Castillo added seven kills each. Setter Allison Walker had another good performance with 30 assists.
 
Defensively, Amanda Maestas led the Mountaineers with 20 digs. Eatwell added 11 and a pair of blocks. Up front, Molly Hothan and Taylor Castillo dominated the net with four block assists apiece.
 
Western State looks to put distance between them and the three-way pack fighting for eighth place in the RMAC tomorrow evening when they rematch Colorado Christian University. The Cougars are a game back from the Mountaineers in eighth place. The Mountaineers handed the Cougars their first conference loss earlier this season in a four-set match in Paul Wright Gymnasium.