GUNNISON, Colo.  The Mountaineers will try to build on their first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory the past weekend, as Fort Lewis College and New Mexico Highlands University come to Paul Wright Gym on Tuesday and Sunday, respectively.

WESTERN COLORADO HEADING INTO THE WEEK | 2023 Stats

• The Mountaineers (3-13 overall, 1-5 RMAC) let a 2-0 match lead slip away on Saturday night, but they bounced back to take the fifth set over visiting Black Hills State to earn the 3-2 conference win.
• The Western attack is led by Maggie Olson and Seyun Park. Olson — whose 22 kills in the Black Hills State match was a career high — has 166 kills on the season and her average of 3.02 per set ranks eighth in the league. Park has 150 kills and her attack percentage of .346 is fifth best in the RMAC.
• Nur Turkmenoglu dished out 54 assists against BHSU, a career high including her previous time at Dodge City CC. She's totaled 500 so far this season and her average of 8.47/set is eighth within league rankings. Turkmenoglu has also contributed a team-high 19 service aces so far.
• Elizabeth Rupprecht and Park are defensive leaders for Western. Rupprecht is averaging 3.69 digs/set, eighth in the RMAC, and has come up with a total of 214 digs. Park is the main pest at the net for opponents, registering 5 solo blocks and 26 block assists for a blocking total of 31.0.

FORT LEWIS HEADING INTO THE WEEK | 2023 Stats

• The Skyhawks have an overall record of 7-9 while posting a 2-4 mark in league play. They and Western have alternated wins over the past four outings with the Skyhawks claiming victory last season.
• Alexis Hobie's 154 kills leads Fort Lewis and her 3.21 kills/set average ranks fifth in the conference.
• Also fifth in RMAC rankings is setter Natalia Lambos. She averages 9.42 assists/set and has 537 of the team's 661 set assists.
• Helping put points on the scoreboard are Ella Butler and Sarah Wilkey. The duo have combined for 53 services aces, of the team's 109, and Butler's mark of .64/set is second best in the conference.
• Wilkey is also the team's digs leader with 220. She averages 3.73/set, a figure that is sixth in the RMAC.

N.M. HIGHLANDS HEADING INTO THE WEEK | 2023 Stats

• The Cowgirls won their first match of the season, 3-1 over Ouachita Baptist, but followed that victory with a 16-match losing streak, which includes six losses against RMAC competition.
• Highlands is surrendering to opponents an attacking percentage of .280 while only posting a .110 success rate.
• Three Cowgirls are grouped atop the team's kills list, led by Aziza Morris' 109 and Jaylee Gonzales' 107.
• Highlands most often is running a 5-2 with Megan Waghorn and Ashleigh Meyer splitting the setting duties. Waghorn has 185 assists while Gonzales totals 174 assists.
• Ranked 10th in the RMAC in digs/set at 3.45 is Abby Carlsen. Her season total of 183 is more than twice the next Cowgirl on the digs list.

UP NEXT

• Western's next four matches will be on the road, beginning with a trip to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs on Oct. 20.
• The next night takes the Mountaineers to 12th-ranked Regis University.