TOPEKA, Kan. – Western State Colorado University volleyball opened the season on Friday in Topeka, Kansas. The Mountaineers had two matches on day one of the season. The first came against Pittsburgh State University (Kan.) and the second was against Drury University. The Mountaineers fell to PSU 3-1 before dropping a match to Drury 3-0.
 
In the first match of the day, Western (0-2, 0-0 RMAC) faced PSU (1-0, 0-0 MIAA). The Gorillas got the best of the Mountaineers early, taking the first set 25-19.
 
Western would bounce back in the second set. However, PSU looked to be on their way to another set victory, and led by four, 13-9, midway through the second set. The Mountaineers continued to fight back, going on an 8-4 run to tie the set at 17 points. With momentum on their side, Western scored the next eight of 11 points to win the second set 25-20 and tie the match at one set.
 
In the following two sets, the Gorillas got out to early leads. The leads would prove too much for the Mountaineers, as they fell in the third set 25-16 and the fourth 25-14.
 
Western's Logan Franek led all players with 18 digs. Teammate Jordan Eatwell led the team in kills with 10.
 
As a team, the Mountaineers recorded eight service aces and five blocks. One more than PSU in each category.

The blocks continued in the second match of the day against Drury (2-0, 0-0 GLVC). Western's Kiki Johnson recorded five blocks, two more than the entire Drury squad combined. Johnson led the Mountaineers in points with 8.5.

However, the blocks weren't enough from stalling the Panther attack, specifically from Bentley Mara. Mara led all players with 20 points and 18 kills.

The offensive performance by Drury was enough to push them over the edge, winning all three sets (25-20, 25-19, 25-11).
 
 Eatwell again led the Mountaineers in kills, scoring seven.
 
Western continues the season next Thursday against the University of Nebraska – Kearney in Kearney, Nebraska at 7 p.m. The Mountaineers will then play in UNK's tournament over the following two days, playing four more matches.