Box Score Gunnison, Colo.   The Western Colorado volleyball team knocked down RMAC opponent South Dakota Mines during Tuesday evenings match.  
 
JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: Western Colorado defeat South Dakota Mines 3-1 (25-19, 25-20, 24-26)
Records: Western Colorado overall 9-12 (6-4 RMAC) | SDM overall 12-8 (RMAC 7-3)
Location: Gunnison, Colorado | Paul Wright Gym
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Hardrockers quickly took a 4-1 lead. But WCU capitalized on the new few plays, tying the game at 4-a-piece. The next scores were exchanged, then The Mountaineers took over, almost completely. Making save on the defensive side turned into kills for Western. After multiple scores in a row, WCU took a 22-13 edge. SDM wasn't giving up yet, they battle back to a 22-17 deficit. The final points were a nail bitter. South Dakota Mines earned 19 points, but WCU was too powerful, taking set one 25-19.  
• The Mountaineers brought the energy from the first into the second. Seniors Seyun Park and Nur Turkmenoglu earned the first two kills, then a block by sophomore Kyra Kidd and Park put WCU up 3-1. The game was intense, the score 9-9. Western Colorado broke the tie, moving to a 15-10 advantage. Once the Mountaineers got up, they never let go of their lead. The Hardrockers tried, but WCU's offense and defense was resilient. The Mountaineers were victorious in set two 25-20.
• Another neck and neck set began with Park smashing the ball 2-0. The Mountaineers were on fire, going up 9-4. SDM got within a point 11-10 but WCU had the momentum. The Mountaineer defense escalated their offense. Sophomore Chinaru Inoue saved WCU from being scored on with multiple pancakes. The Hardrockers got within one has the set was coming to an end 22-21. From Hardrocker serve, they tied the game 22-22. A hit by junior Olive Rolseth put SDM defense twisted, resulting in a kill 23-22. SDM tied the game, then grabbed the lead. Two hard hit kills resulted in SDM winning their first set 26-24.
• Western Colorado was looking to end the game this set. They came in fired up. WCU pushed out to a 6-1 lead then went up 10-4. The Hardrockers went on a small run, but WCU kept the lead 15-9. The Mountaineers secured their win after scoring seven consecutive points gaining a 22-9 advantage. WCU's last two points were hit by Park 25-12.

NET NOTES

• Park led the offense with 22 kills. She also contributed 4 digs and 2 assisted blocks. Right behind was junior Pelin Aksoy with 12 kills then senior Kennedy Kelly with 10.
• Turkmenoglu set up the Mountaineers earning 50 assists while adding two aces, 4 kills, 2 assisted blocks, a solo block and 9 digs.
• Leading the defense was Inoue with 19 digs, 4 of them being pancakes and saving WCU from a score against. Following was sophomore Kacee Garcia with 13 digs then Rolseth with 12.

THEY SAID IT


UP NEXT
Mountaineer Volleyball will host New Mexico Highlands and Black Hills State for an RMAC Power Pod weekend Thursday October 31, Friday November 1, and Saturday November 2.
   
For more information visit gomountaineers.com.