GUNNISON, COLO. The Western Colorado Mountaineers hosted Sul Ross State in their first match on Saturday in the Virginia Harris/Jeanie Miller Invitational, taking care of business with a convincing 3-0 sweep. Western then returned to the court at 7 PM for the final match of the invitational, hosting Lubbock Christian. The Mountaineers carried their momentum into the evening, earning another 3-0 sweep to close out the Virginia Harris/Jeanie Miller Invitational on a high note.
JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Western Colorado def. Sul Ross State , 3-0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-18)
Records: Western Colorado 3-0, Sul Ross State 0-2
Location: Paul Wright Gymnasium
Final score: Western Colorado def. Lubbock Christian , 3-0 (25-18, 25-22, 25-20)
Records: Western Colorado 4-0, Lubbock Christian 3-1
Location: Paul Wright Gymnasium
HOW IT HAPPENED GAME ONE (Sul Ross State)
Western continued to stay hot, cruising to a dominant 25-11 victory in the opening set. The Mountaineers established control early and never allowed Sul Ross State to find a rhythm offensively.
Sierra Long led the way for Western, finishing with a team-high 16 kills while making an impact all over the court. Long consistently found open spots in the Sul Ross State defense and kept pressure on the Lobos throughout the match.
The Mountaineers carried that same energy into the second frame, quickly building momentum and putting themselves in a strong position. Sul Ross State responded with a run of its own, cutting the deficit to just three points and making things interesting late in the set. Western, however, remained composed and quickly regained control. The Mountaineers responded with a strong push down the stretch to take the second set 25-18 and move one set away from completing the sweep.
Kyra Kidd was a key contributor in the middle for Western, finishing the match with seven kills. Kidd also made her presence felt defensively at the net, tallying two blocks and helping the Mountaineers slow down the Sul Ross State attack. Her combination of offensive production and defensive presence gave Western another strong option throughout the match.
The dynamic duo of
Anuhea Ka'alele and
Olivia Moore continued to control the offense and keep the Mountaineers in rhythm. Ka'alele led the team with 20 assists, while Moore added 17 assists as the pair consistently distributed the ball and kept Sul Ross State guessing. Their ability to spread the offense allowed Western to find success from multiple positions on the court.
With the sweep within reach, Western stepped on the gas in the third set. The Mountaineers controlled the pace from the opening point and never allowed Sul Ross State to make a serious push. Western closed out the third set 25-18, completing the 3-0 sweep and continuing its strong run of play.
The Mountaineers received contributions from throughout the lineup and remained in control for most of the match, showcasing a balanced offensive attack and strong defensive effort from start to finish.
HOW IT HAPPENED — GAME 2 (Lubbock Christian)
In the final match of the Virginia Harris/Jeanie Miller Invitational, the Mountaineers put on another impressive performance. Western came out firing in the opening set, taking control early and earning a 25-18 victory. Once again,
Sierra Long proved to be a force at the net, leading the Mountaineers with 12 kills.
Maggie Legg also continued her strong weekend, adding seven kills of her own to help Western maintain control throughout the opening frame.
The second set was a test for the Mountaineers as Lubbock Christian held the lead for much of the frame. Western continued to battle and remained within striking distance before making a crucial push late in the set. The Mountaineers caught fire down the stretch, scoring the final six points unanswered to erase the deficit and take the second set 25-22.
Olivia Moore and
Anuhea Ka'alele once again helped keep the Western offense running smoothly. Moore led the team with 16 assists, while Ka'alele added 14 assists as the duo continued to distribute the ball effectively and keep the Lubbock Christian defense guessing. Their ability to spread the offense allowed Western to find success from multiple positions on the court.
The third set was another battle from start to finish as Lubbock Christian once again jumped out to an early lead. The Mountaineers refused to back down, continuing to battle and bring energy as the set progressed. Western eventually fought its way back into the lead and never looked back, closing out the third set 25-20.
With the victory, Western completed the 3-0 sweep over Lubbock Christian and closed out the Virginia Harris/Jeanie Miller Invitational on a high note.
UP NEXT
The Mountaineers are back in action on September 3 where they will travel to Honolulu, Hawaii for the Hawaii Challenge. Western will take on Western Oregon in the first match of the tournament at 12 PM MT.
