SALT LAKE CITY, Utah. Things didn't go Western Colorado's way on Friday (Sep. 30), resulting in them losing to the Westminster Griffins 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, 25-16).
 
JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: Westminster def. Western Colorado 3-0 (25-12, 25-19, 25-16).
Records: Western Colorado 2-12 (1-6 RMAC), Westminster 5-10 (3-4 RMAC).
Location: Behnken Field House; Salt Lake City, Utah.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Early on things were relatively close – the Griffins holding a 4-1 lead to start. But, the Mountaineers chipped away at the lead thanks to kills by Emily Mangone and Jaeda Davis-Golliher and a service ace by Elizabeth Rupprecht – leading to the lead being 8-6 in favor of Westminster.
• Unfortunately, that was the closest Western got to tying the game in the first set as the Griffins went on a 17-6 run – scoring 10-points straight – to close the set out.
• Things went slightly better in the second set for the Mountaineers holding a 6-3 lead, after Davis-Golliher picked up two kills, Caroline Parker pitched in a kill, Randi Wellhoefer blocked an attack and Mangone picked up a kill. The three-point lead would remain until the score got to 9-6 and Westminster went on the attack. The Griffins tied the game at 10-10 and then took a 16-13 lead – which didn't last long.
• A bad set and an error by Westminster and two kills by Carsen Glaser and Olive Rolseth led to things being tied at 17-17. The Mountaineers would commit a bad set during the sequence which gave the Griffins their 17th point. Yet, similar to the previous set, Westminster went on an 8-2 run to close the game out.
• Despite being down 2-0 in the second set, the Mountaineers continued to fight an gave it their all until the very end. Once again, Western and the Griffins were neck and neck early on in third set, with the game being tied 10-10. However, similar to previous sets the Griffins went on a 5-0 run. Then the Mountaineers quickly countered with a 3-0 run of their own – Davis-Golliher, Mangone and Rolseth each picking up kills.
• While Western was able to get within two-points, Westminster closed the game out on a 10-3 run.

COURT NOTES

• Davis-Golliher led the way in kills with eight, followed by Rolseth with five and Mangone and Glaser each having four kills.
• Hailee Martinez was a key factor in those kills happening, having 10 assist and had help from Lexi Wilmoth who had five of her own. Wilmoth, Rupprecht and Wellhoefer each had one service ace.
• In the block category, Wellhoefer and Davis-Golliher each had one block each.
• Over the course of the game the Mountaineers had 33 digs, being led by Mangone with six and Wilmoth and Julia Antu each having five apiece.

UP NEXT
The Mountaineers return to action tomorrow (Oct. 1) taking on rival Colorado Mesa University on the road starting at 3 p.m.