GUNNISON, Colo --- Western Colorado volleyball faces off in their first conference game this Friday against the ThunderWolves of CSU – Pueblo, followed by a match up against the Cowgirls of New Mexico Highlands on Saturday.
 
On Friday, the Mountaineers head to Pueblo, Colorado, to take on the 2-6 Thunderwolves in Massari Arena at 7 p.m. for their conference opener.  
 
Then on Saturday, the Mountaineers will play the 1-7 Cowgirls at the John A. Wilson Complex in Las Vegas, New Mexico, at 6 p.m.
 
THE MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO THE WEEK | 2019 SEASON STATS
Western finished up the preseason with a 4-4 record after attending the Gorilla Classic Tournament and the Tiger Classic Tournament over the past two weekends.
 
At the Gorilla Classic, Western went 1-3 on the weekend, but had a few eye opening performances from their roster including freshman Jordyn Todd who led the Mountaineers in multiple categories and had 45 kills. Also distinguishing themselves as elite performers were upper classmen Emilee Scates, Hanna Hendrickson, and Lyria Brook as they set the precedent for the Mountaineers in Pittsburg, Kan. as they heavily contributed to their victory against East Central University.
 
The team found their rhythm at the Tiger Classic as they won three out of their four games. Freshman Myles Hilbert made a name for herself as she had 37 digs in a single game with 68 total on the weekend. Scates also had an impressive weekend as she recorded 43 kills over the four game tournament.   
 
Colorado State University - Pueblo | 2019 SEASON STATS
The ThunderWolves are coming off of 2-2 weekend at the Southeastern Classic, where junior Maddy Wisniewski earned All-Southeastern Classic Team honors. Wisniewski averaged 2.31 kills per set, along with seven blocks. Wisniewski also leads the team with a .245 hitting percentage and shares the lead in kills per set with senior Sarah Vang at 2.13 kills per set.
 
Junior Kyle Meltzer ranks eighth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with 4.32 digs per set. Meltzer leads the team with 12 service aces and 0.39 aces per set. The ThunderWolves have three players who average more than 0.75 blocks per set.
 
New Mexico Highlands University | 2019 SEASON STATS
Despite their 1-7 record the Cowgirls are still a team to look out for. They started their season playing some of the tougher teams in division two, as they now begin their conference play. On Friday, they will face the Mavericks of Colorado Mesa as they look for their second win of the season.
 
Leading the rest of her team by almost double, sophomore Keegan Lopez has recorded 60 kills, averaging 2.4 per set. Lopez is responsible for 30 percent of her team's kills on the season.  Leading the Cowgirls in digs is senior Bryanna Lopez as she has earned 88 on the season, averaging 4.89 per set.
 
NEXT WEEK
Following the weekend, Western Colorado will host their first home game of the season against the Mavericks of Colorado Mesa University on Tuesday, Sep. 24th in Paul Wright Gym.