GUNNISON, COLO. The Western Colorado University Volleyball team hosted New Mexico Highlands in their second game of the Virginia Harris/Jeanie Miller Invitational on Friday afternoon where the Mountaineers soared to a commanding 3-0 victory over the Cowgirls.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western Colorado def. New Mexico Highlands, 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-21)
Records: Western Colorado 2-0, New Mexico Highlands 0-2
Location: Paul Wright Gymnasium
HOW IT HAPPENED
The first set saw Western jump out to an early lead and never look back, as the Mountaineers controlled the pace from the opening serve. Western continued to build on its advantage throughout the set, setting the tone for the match before closing out the opening frame, 25-18.
Sierra Long was all over the court throughout the first set and continued to make an impact offensively, finishing the match with a team-high 10 kills.
Andrea Torres also provided a strong presence at the net, recording eight kills to help keep the Mountaineers' offense rolling.
The second set proved to be more of a battle, with the Cowgirls holding a 17-14 advantage midway through the frame. Western responded with a strong run, quickly erasing the deficit and taking control of the set. The Mountaineers continued to apply pressure down the stretch, eventually securing a 25-20 victory and taking a 2-0 lead in the match.
Olivia Moore played a key role in keeping the Western offense in rhythm, finishing with 25 total assists.
Anuhea Ka'alele also helped control the offense throughout the match, adding 12 assists as the Mountaineers consistently found ways to keep the Cowgirls' defense on their heels.
The third set followed a similar script to the second, with Highlands gaining an early advantage and building momentum. Once again, Western answered with a strong push, battling back to regain the lead. The Mountaineers refused to surrender their advantage once they took control, closing out the third set, 25-21, to complete the sweep.
Defensively,
Galatia Andrew anchored the Mountaineers in the back row, leading the team with 16 digs and helping keep rallies alive while setting up the Western offense.
Maggie Legg also made her presence felt defensively, recording 12 digs on the night.
Western's balanced attack and strong defensive effort helped the Mountaineers control the match from start to finish. The Mountaineers finished the night with a convincing 3-0 sweep, continuing their strong start to the season.
UP NEXT
Western is back in action tomorrow at 11:30 AM and 7 PM in Paul Wright Gym where they will face Sul Ross State and Lubbock Christian University to cap off the Virginia Harris/Jeanie Miller Invitational.
