KEARNEY, Neb. – On the first day of competition at the New Victorian Inn & Suites/Runza Fall Classic on the University of Nebraska at Kearney's campus, Western State Colorado University volleyball fell to Texas A&M University – Kingsville and Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The Mountaineers lost to both schools in three sets.
 
In the first match against Kingsville (4-3, 0-0 Lone Star), Western (0-7, 0-0 RMAC) brought out the serving snipers. The Mountaineers scored eight points on service aces against the Javelinas. Kirsten Companik, Hanna Hendrickson and Cammi Baumann each recorded two aces for Western.
 
However, TAMUK would overcome the Mountaineers' serving prowess winning the first set 25-18, the second 25-20 and the third 25-14.
 
Hendrickson led the match with 24 assists and teammate Jordan Eatwell led the Mountaineers with nine kills. Eatwell also tied a match high 11 points scored.
 
TAMUK's Madison Brabham led all players with 11 kills.
 
 Against Southeastern Oklahoma State (3-3, 0-0 GAC), the Mountaineers and the Savage Storm played a back-and-forth first set. Midway through the set, Western trailed SEOSU 11-13. A 5-0 run by the Storm, put the set out of reach as SEOSU won the first 25-18.
 
The second set started much like the first as the two teams traded points, and Western was down only one point, 7-8. This time, the Storm went on a 7-0 run after that, taking a 15-7 lead. SEOSU would win the second set 25-14.
 
Another 6-0 run by SEOSU in the third set, after the score had been 11-13 in favor of the Storm, put the set out of reach. The Mountaineers would fall in the third set 25-15.
 
Eatwell again led Western in kills with 10.
 
SEOSU's Arianna Baker led all players in kills with 15.
 
The Mountaineers will continue the New Victorian Inn & Suites/Runza Fall Classic on Saturday with two more matches. Western faces No. 25 Rockhurst University at 9 a.m. and Nortwestern Oklahoma State University at 3 p.m.