Western Colorado University Athletics

GUNNISON, COLO.  The Western Colorado University Volleyball team surged to a five-set winner to open the 2026 campaign in the Virginia Harris/Jeanie Miller Invitational on Thursday night inside Paul Wright Gym.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western Colorado def. Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 3-2
Records: Western Colorado 1-0, Southwestern Oklahoma 0-1
Location: Paul Wright Gymnasium

HOW IT HAPPENED

Western came out of the gates hot in the opening set, establishing control early and setting the tone for the match. The Mountaineers maintained their advantage throughout the set before the Bulldogs put together a late run to make things interesting. Western stayed composed under pressure and finished strong, taking the opening set, 25-21.

Andrea Torres made an immediate impact in her first career game as a Mountaineer, leading the team with an impressive 24 kills. Torres provided a consistent offensive presence throughout the match, giving Western a strong attacking option from the opening serve and helping the Mountaineers maintain pressure at the net.
The second set featured another tightly contested battle, with both teams trading runs and momentum throughout the frame. Southwestern managed to make the plays it needed late in the set, edging the Mountaineers, 25-23, to even the match at one set apiece.

With the match back even, Western responded in a big way in the third set. The Mountaineers regained control early and carried that momentum throughout the frame, pulling away for a convincing 25-17 victory. The strong performance gave Western a 2-1 lead and put the Mountaineers just one set away from securing their first victory of the 2026 season.

Southwestern refused to go away quietly, however, answering with a strong fourth set. The Bulldogs regained momentum and held off the Mountaineers to force a deciding fifth set, setting up a dramatic finish between the two teams.

Several Mountaineers stepped up throughout the match, led by Torres and Maggie Legg, who made her Western debut with 16 kills. Breanna Nohava added eight kills, providing another important piece to the Mountaineers' offensive attack. Anuhea Ka'alele helped keep the Western offense running smoothly throughout the night, recording 40 total assists while controlling the tempo and distributing the ball effectively.

Defensively, veteran Galatia Andrew led the way for the Mountaineers with an impressive 22 digs. Legg also made an impact on the defensive end, finishing second on the team with 12 digs to go along with her 16 kills. At the net, Kyra Kidd led Western's blocking effort with two solo blocks and three block assists, helping the Mountaineers limit the Bulldogs' offensive opportunities.

With everything coming down to the fifth set, Western came out strong and took an early lead. The Bulldogs responded with a run of their own, battling back to tie the set at 10-10 and putting the pressure back on the Mountaineers.

Western remained composed when it mattered most. The Mountaineers battled through the final points, executing down the stretch and closing out the deciding set, 15-12.

With the victory, Western secured its first win of the 2026 season in thrilling fashion. After trading momentum throughout the match and battling through two close sets, the Mountaineers delivered when it mattered most, opening the season with a hard-fought five-set victory.

UP NEXT
Western is back in action tomorrow at 4:30 PM in Paul Wright Gym where they will face New Mexico Highlands.