GUNNISON, Colo. Western Colorado ended their season on a positive note on Saturday (Nov. 5) defeating Adams State 3-1 (16-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-17) on senior night. 

Elizabeth Rupprecht, Emily Mangone, Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jordyn Todd played their final games of their careers for the Mountaineers

JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: Western Colorado def. Adams State 3-1 (16-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-17)
Records: Western Colorado 3-21 (2-15 RMAC), Adams State 8-17 (5-12 RMAC).
Location: Paul Wright Gym; Gunnison, Colo.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After losing the first set 16-25 to Adams State, the Mountaineers came alive in the next three sets.  
• Things were neck and neck in the second set as neither team was able to separate and hold a lead for long. However, with the score tied 18-18 the Mountaineers started to pull away after the Grizzlies took a brief 19-18 lead.
• A Kill by Randi Wellhoefer, an attack error by Adams State and a service ace by Emily Mangone gave Western a 21-19 lead. The Grizzlies earned the next point, cutting the Mountaineers lead to 21-20. Then Wellhoefer and Carsen Glaser picked up back-to-back kills and another Adams State attack error, set Western up with match point. Two Grizzly points later, Jordyn Todd ended the second with a kill.
• The third set played out very similar to the second set, forcing the Mountaineers to once again battle it out with Adams State. The Grizzlies tried to pull away after taking a 12-9 lead. Yet, Glaser and Todd each picked up a kill and Adams State helped Western out with an attack error – tying the game at 12 points apiece.
• Things went back and forth for the next few points. But, Mangone and Glaser continued to sneak the ball past the Grizzles defense for kills and Adams State kept helping the Mountaineers out with an attack error. Up 19-17, the Grizzlies went back and forth for the next three points - putting the lead at 20-19 in favor of Western.
• Thanks to Todd picking up back-to-back kills and Adams State hurting themselves once again with an attack and ballhandling error, the Mountaineers were in position to close out the match up 24-19. The Grizzlies weren't going to go down easy, going on a 4-0 run. Unfortunately for Adams State Todd once again closed the third set with a kill.
• In the fourth and final set of the night, Western started to get into a grove leading to the Mountaineers having the lead for the entire fourth set. Western took an early 5-2 lead on a kill by Mangone, an attack error and three straight block assists – two coming from Glaser and Wellhoefer, and final block assist coming from Wellhoefer and Todd.
• Similar to previous sets, the Grizzlies made the Mountaineers earn their points. However, Western stayed composed and accepted the challenge.
• Despite Adams State keeping the score relatively close early on – scoring being tied 8-8 at one point – the Mountaineers went on an 8-2 run to give them a 16-10 lead. The Grizzlies responded with a 4-1 run of their own, trimming Western's lead to 17-14.
• The Mountaineers matched Adams State's run with a 5-0 run of their own lead by, a kill by Glaser, a block assist by Caroline Parker and Olive Rolseth, and three straight attack errors from the Grizzlies.
• The next five points would be back and forth - Adams State earning three points to Western's two points – setting up Mangone to end senior night with a bang, by picking up the final kill of the night for the win.

COURT NOTES

• Mangone led the way in the kill category with a season high 18 kills – two away from her career best of 20. She was also second in digs with 15. Elizabeth Rupprecht was first in digs with 17 on the night.
• Right behind Mangone in kills was Todd who had 15 kills and Glaser who pitched in with 10 kills of her own.
• Hailee Martinez was setting up her teammates left and right, resulting in her leading the team with a season best 30 assists. Lexi Wilmoth also did her job equally as well finishing the game with 22 assists.
• Wellhoefer led the team in block assist with four, while Glaser was right behind her with three of her own.