GUNNISON – Western State Colorado University women's volleyball worked Westminster Volleyball in three straight sets (25-20, 25-15, 25-19) behind suffocating defense and middle hitter Molly Hothan. The Mountaineers hit the road next weekend to take on Chadron State College and Regis University.
 
Hothan led the Mountaineers (5-5, 1-1 RMAC) offensively hitting a career-high .750 with 13 kills on 16 attempts and a single error. She was joined by Tori Gaherty with 11 kills and Jordan Eatwell with 10. Setter Allison Walker led the Western offense that hit a season-high .316 with 34 assists.
 
The key to the win was defense, as the Mountaineers held their opponent to a -.021 hitting percentage, bringing their weekend total to an average opponent hitting percentage of .00058. Avery Burkholder and Hothan formed the wall up front with three blocks each, while Walker joined for a pair of blocks. In the back row, Amanda Maestas had 15 digs, while Caiden Rexius had 10.
 
The Mountaineers had not held an opponent to a negative hitting percentage since playing Oklahoma Panhandle State University in 2012. Both matches on the weekend were top-three best opponent hitting percentage for the team in the past two seasons.