MOORHEAD, Minn. – The 2018 season for the Western State Colorado University Volleyball team got underway Friday in Minnesota. The Mountaineers will be seeking their first win of the season on Saturday at the Microtel and Travelodge Classic after falling to the University of Mary and Minot State University on Friday.
 
Western (0-2, 0-0 RMAC) came up short against Mary in the season opener, losing in three sets (12-25, 23-25, 25-27). The Mountaineers then forced five sets against Minot, but came up a bit short, losing 3-2 (15-25, 25-22, 19-25, 25-21, 8-15).
 
After a slow start in the first set of the season against Mary, the Mountaineers played Marauders point-for-point in the second set. After a service error by Mary and a kill by Maddy Johnson, Western took a 22-21 lead.
 
The Mountaineer lead was short lived as the Marauders scored the following three points, and ended the second set with a 25-23 lead.
 
The third set started much like the second and the two teams were tied at eight points apiece. However, Western went on a 5-1 run to take control of the match, 13-9. The Mountaineers extended the lead to 20-14 before a late Mary comeback.
 
Western held the lead at 23-20 in the third, just two points away from a set win, but Mary ended on a 7-2 run to win the set 27-25 and take the match 3-0.
 
Kiki Johnson led the Mountaineers in the first match with six kills. Teammate Kathleen Kasel added five kills, hitting 44.4 percent.
 
In the second match against Minot, the Mountaineers were unable to keep pace with the Beavers in the first set, losing 15-25.
 
However, the Mountaineers showed tremendous heart, bouncing back in the second set. A service error by Western late in the set put Minot down just one point, 23-22. Kills by Johnson and Kasel quickly put an end to the Beaver comeback and Western evened the match at one set apiece, winning the second set 25-22.
 
Minot responded by winning the third set 25-19.
 
With their backs against the wall, Western answered in the fourth set after falling behind 15-12. The Mountaineers rattled-off six straight points to regain the lead 20-16. A 25-21 win in the fourth set by the Mountaineers forced a decisive fifth set.
 
A quick start by the Beavers proved too much for Western as they fell 15-8 in the fifth, losing the match 3-2.
 
Kasel led the Mountaineers with 11 kills in the second match. It's the third time in her career that Kasel has recorded double-digit kills.
 
Setter Hanna Hendrickson added 39 assists for Western.
 
The Mountaineers will continue the season Saturday at the Microtel and Travelodge Classic with two more matches.