Gunnison, Colo.   The Western Colorado volleyball team swept New Mexico Highlands in a RMAC Power Pod game one.
 
JUST THE FACTS
Final Score: Western Colorado defeat New Mexico Highlands 3-0 (25-14, 25-20, 25-23)
Records: Western Colorado overall 10-12 (7-4 RMAC) | Highlands overall 4-17 (RMAC 2-9)
Location: Gunnison, Colorado | Paul Wright Gym
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Kill by senior Kennedy Kelly and service ace by junior Olive Rolseth awarded the Mountaineers a 2-0 lead. The Cowgirls added to their score, but a six-point run by WCU gave them a 11-4 edge. WCU kept the energy high, creating an eight-point scoring deficit 17-9. NMH strung together five more points, but they were no match for Western's offense. The Mountaineers took set one 25-14.
• Highlands struck first, earning their first lead of the match 1-0. A few ties at the beginning but kills by Rolseth, Kelly, sophomore Kyra Kidd and senior Nur Turkmenoglu put the lead back in WCU's hands 14-8. The Cowgirls got with four 15-11 but were never able to steal the lead. The Mountaineer's executed on both sides of the ball to take set two 25-23.
• Kelly, Rolseth and junior Pelin Aksoy gave WCU a 5-0 advantage to begin the third. More scores from Kidd and sophomore Chinaru Inoue pushed WCU's lead 7-3. The Cowgirls were resilient, making this an interesting set. NMH saw a 15-12 lead. The Mountaineers did not back down, they kept battling, taking the back the reins 20-17. NMH called a timeout in hopes to regain focus but Western was too powerful, winning set three 25-20 and sweeping the match.

NET NOTES

• Kelly led the offense with 9 kills. Right behind her were Rolseth and Aksoy respectively with 8 kills.
• Turkmenoglu set up the Mountaineers earning 30 assists while adding an ace, 4 kills, 4 digs.
• Leading the defense was Inoue with 11 digs with the addition of a kill. Following was freshman Grace DeVall with 8 digs then senior Myles Hilbert with 7.
• Rolseth, Hilbert and Aksoy respectfully contributed two aces.

UP NEXT
New Mexico Highlands and Black Hills State University will compete on Friday November 1 at 1pm in Paul Wright gym.
The Mountaineers are back in action on Saturday November 2 as they host Black Hills State for an RMAC Power Pod match at 6pm.