GUNNISON, Colo. – Western State Colorado University women's volleyball team looks to extend on its two-game win streak against Regis University and Chadron State College Friday and Saturday, respectfully. The Mountaineers (4-11, 2-3 RMAC) currently sit fifth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Mountain Division. Regis (6-6, 3-1 RMAC) is third in the Rocky Division, with Chadron State (3-9, 2-2 RMAC) sitting fifth.
 
Though the Mountaineers are fifth out of eight teams in the Mountain Division, the team boasts the only conference wins over second and third place Colorado Mines and Colorado Christian. Western State has 13 remaining conference games to jump into the top four of its division to qualify for the RMAC conference tournament.
 
Jordan Eatwell leads the Mountaineers with 139 kills, averaging more than three kills per set. Distributing the ball, setter Allison Walker is on pace for a career-high season with 373 assists, just under nine assists per set. Walker is currently fourth in the conference in assists per set.
 
Also for Western State, the trio of Taylor Castillo (91 kills), Tori Gaherty (89 kills) and Molly Hothan (82 kills) have been a force up front, putting down more than 260 kills.
 
The Mountaineers have been playing outstanding defense, holding both Colorado Mines and Colorado Christian to under .100 in hitting percentage. The success has come as a team effort, with seven players in double-digits for total blocks. Avery Burkholder leads all Mountaineers with 43 total blocks. Her one block per set is good for fifth in the conference. Hothan has 36, while Eatwell adds 25. Walker, Gaherty and Kathleen Kasel each have 17, with Castillo rounding out the pack with 13.
 
In the backrow, Amanda Maestas is second in the RMAC with over five digs per set and has more than 32 percent of the team's total digs with 227. The only other player to eclipse the century mark is Logan Franek with 108.
 
Western State volleyball has not won three games in a row since the end of the 2010 season, and haven't won four straight since 2003, the last time the Mountaineers were in the RMAC Tournament.