GUNNISON, Colo. – Western State Colorado University Volleyball embarks on a three-match road trip, starting Tuesday at Colorado Mesa University. The Mountaineers face CMU at 7 p.m. Tuesday night before traveling to Utah for a Friday night match against Dixie State University and a Saturday match against Westminster College.
 
Western (1-9, 0-2 RMAC) opened the conference season last weekend at home against New Mexico Highlands University and Colorado State University – Pueblo. The Mountaineers were unable to earn their first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference win of the season, falling in three sets in both matches.
 
The Mountaineers are tied for second in the RMAC with 52 service aces, averaging 1.49 per set.
 
Kirsten Companik is Western's leader in kills with 61, averaging 2.03 kills per set. Teammate Kathleen Kasel is the team's point leader, scoring 64 points this season.
 
Tuesday night's match against CMU (7-3, 2-0 RMAC) will be the first of two meetings this season between the two schools.
 
The Mavericks enter the week on a five-match winning streak. CMU has dropped just four sets during the five-match streak.
 
The last Western win over CMU came on Oct. 26, 2012 when the Mountaineers won in five sets on the road in Brownson Arena.
 
CMU is ranked third in the RMAC for hitting percentage at .206, while leading the conference in opponent kills, allowing just 10.11 per set.
 
Kasie Gilfert leads the Mavericks with 110 kills and 131 points. Teammate Taylor Woods averages the second most digs in the RMAC at 5.19 per set.
 
Dixie State (7-2, 2-0 RMAC) won both matches last weekend to begin the RMAC season. The Trailblazers defeated both South Dakota School of Mines & Technology and Black Hills State University in three sets.
 
DSU is holding opponents to a RMAC low .118 hitting percentage, while also leading the conference in service aces per set at 1.69.
 
Lauren Gammell and Malary Marshall are two of the top blockers in the RMAC. Gammell has recorded 50 blocks, while Marshall has added 40.
 
Megan Treanor leads the Trailblazers with 96 kills.
 
Westminster (3-7, 1-1 RMAC) enters the week having lost four of their last five matches. However, the Griffins split the weekend series against RMAC opponents Black Hills State and SDSMT. WC defeated BHSU 3-1 and lost to SDSMT 0-3.
 
The Griffins are allowing opponents to block their hits on average just 1.61 times per set. This ranks third best in the conference.
 
Audrey Green leads Westminster in kills with 131. Her 3.64 kills per set average ranks second best in the RMAC.
 
The last Western win over Westminster came on Oct. 29, 2016 in Salt Lake City. The Mountaineers won the match in five sets.
 
Fans unable to attend this week's matches on the road can follow live online through GoMountaineers.com.