LAKEWOOD, Colo.  Western Colorado broke even with host Colorado Christian University through two sets Saturday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference volleyball action, but the Cougars added wins in the third and fourth sets for a 3-1 victory over the Mountaineers.

THE ESSENTIALS
Final score: CCU def. Western, 3-1 (25-18, 23-25, 25-17, 25-15)
Records: Western 3-20 (2-14 RMAC), CCU 15-10 (10-6)
Location: CCU Event Center, Lakewood, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Each set winner, at one point or another, used a string of unanswered points to tilt the outcome – despite the loser of each set having its own run.
• Western had an 8-1 run in the second set, a string that included a 5-0 stretch, to rally from a 9-6 disadvantage. The Cougars answered that run with a 9-1 stretch to reclaim the lead, 20-16, only to give in to the Mountaineers' finishing stretch.
• A 4-0 run ,that was highlighted by a block from Randi Wellhoefer and Carsen Glaser and followed by a service ace by Hailee Martinez, knotted the score at 20-20. Western scored five of the final seven points to win the set and tie the match at a set apiece.
• The third set was even through the early going, including seven ties during a span that put the score a 10-10. A pair of 3-0 spurts by CCU gave it some breathing room and despite Western pulling back to within three, 19-16, the Cougars were able to finish the set off on a 6-1 run to take a 2-1 lead on the match scoreboard.
• The deciding fourth set opened with a 5-0 CCU run that was answered by Western's own 4-0 string. A 4-0 response by the Cougars that would be part of a 7-1 breakaway made things tough on the Mountaineers.
• Though Caroline Parker would fend off a pair of match points with a pair of kills, CCU put one last point on the board to take the set and capture the match victory.
• The opening set that gave CCU the early edge saw Western rally back from a six-point deficit to pull within two late, 20-18, but the Cougars scored five unanswered to take the first set.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

• The Cougars' hitting percentage was key to their defeat of the Mountaineers as CCU finished at .396 with only 10 attack errors in 101 attacks.
• Western started well, .217 in the first set, improved that figure to .300 for the second set, but dropped to .185 in the third and .043 in the fourth to end the match at .167 with 24 attack errors.
• The Mountaineer attack was also partially stunted by CCU's defensive net play. The Cougars registered 11.0 total blocks, to 5.0 by the Western defense.
• Parker, with 10 kills, and Carsen Glaser and Jordyn Todd with 9 each, led the Mountaineers on the attack. The trio was not able to match the 19 and 11 kills from the CCU duo of Libby Goodman and Lilly Woods, respectively.
• Many times throughout the match it was points from serve that got Western going. It finished the night with 11 aces, paced by from each by Martinez and fellow setter Lexi Wilmoth.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Mountaineers will close out their 2022 schedule at home on Friday and Saturday over the team's Food Drive Weekend. New Mexico Highlands University comes to the Paul Wright Gym November 4 for Professor Appreciation Night, with Adams State University squaring off against Western on its Senior Night.