by Michael Rowse

The Western New Mexico University volleyball team battled, but ultimately the Colorado Christian Cougars were too much defeating the Lady Mustangs, 3-0 Saturday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action on Drag's Court.

Colorado Christian University (CCU) opened the first set with a solid run racing out to an 18-9 lead. CCU continued with the run, taking the set, 25-12.

The second set went back-and-forth. CCU opened with an 8-1 lead, and later held a 17-12 lead when Western New Mexico University worked their way back into the set. They would go on a 7-2 run to tie the set at 19, with Ziona Verhulsdonk and Lauren Buseman posting kills to knot the set. CCU would go back ahead, 21-19, but another Lady Mustang run tied things at 21 behind a kill by "Ria" Falealili and a service error. The teams would tie again at 23 and 24, before the Cougars pulled away for good with back-to-back kills to take the set, 26-24.

In the third, CCU would hold the lead throughout, although the Lady Mustangs tied the set on a number of occasions. Following a tie at six, CCU would tally the next two points and wouldn't look back. Ahead 20-14, WNMU came back to within three, 20-17, on kills from Heather Rux and Angelina Pulu around a service ace for Rux. CCU responded with a 3-0 run to push the lead to 23-17. The teams would then trade the final four points down the stretch with CCU pulling out the 25-19 set win and 3-0 match win.

WNMU will hit the road next week as they will play at CSU-Pueblo at 7 p.m. Friday night.