Silver City, N.M. – The Western New Mexico University volleyball team were in action last Friday night as they were able to sweep Texas Women’s University for the win, 3-0.
The Mustangs (12-6, 4-3 LSC) dominated with their kills as they came away with 42 while limiting the Pioneers to 29. WNMU hit a percentage of .345 while TWU hit .080.
Individually for Western, Samantha Haupeakui led the team in kill with 9, followed by Kalie Lyle with 7. Assists leaders were Melanie Hughes with 18 and Bailey Gin with 16.
In the first set, WNMU jumped to a quick lead, 7-2, after a kill from Heather Verrill. Fighting their way back was the Pioneers as they narrowed the lead to two, 11-9. Later in the set, Mustang’s Kelli McGiey pushed the lead to five and then a following kill from Hughes made the score 17-11. WNMU went on a 4-1 run to finish off and take the set 25-17 with Shannon Rich delivering the final point from a kill.
Early in the second set, both teams went back and forth until Western broke away as they went on a 5-0 streak putting them ahead 10-5. TMU kept the game close as they pulled to within two, 16-14. This would not phase the Mustangs as they respond with three points in a row thanks to Lyle and Rich’s kills and a Pioneer error. With one point away from taking the set, a serving ace from Kelsey Marks helped WNMU to take the set 25-19.
TMU had four attack errors that put WNMU up early in the third set, 4-0. The Mustangs kept momentum rolling as they went on an 8-2 streak that extended their lead, 12-3. Texas fought back in the middle of the set that cut the deficit to five, 16-11. Western would answer back with a 6-1 run making the score 21-12. A kill from Lyle would seal the set and match point for the Mustangs, 25-19.
WNMU volleyball will be back in action this Saturday at home as they match up against Texas A&M University – Commerce with the game beginning at 6 p.m.
