by Michael Rowse

WNMU's volleyball team saw their season come to an end Tuesday night at the hands of #14 Regis University as Western fell in the first round of the RMAC postseason tournament. Regis defeated the Lady Stangs 3-0 (25-14, 25-18, 25-20) in Denver CO. The two teams had met one time this season, also in Denver, with a similar outcome. Regis entered the tourney as the #2 seed while WNMU was the #7 seed.

In the first set, Regis set the tone early with a 7-0 run to take an 8-1 lead. The Lady Stangs would not be able to get closer than 6 points as Regis cruised to a 25-14 win. In the second set Lauren Buseman got a couple of quick early points for the visiting team, but Regis once again reeled off another run, 4-0 to take a 6-2 lead. After the Stangs recorded 2 more points, the Rangers went on a 6-0 run to take control of the match. Ria Falealili and Heather Rux posted kills; but the Lady Stangs couldn't match the Regis run, as they took a 25-18 win and 2-0 match lead.

In the final set, it was more of the same. WNMU held an early 2-1 lead but RU put together a 5 point run and never looked back. WNMU made a late run trailing 21-14, Ziona Verhulsdonk and Rux tallied kills along with blocks from Buseman and Verhulsdonk to pull within 3 at 21-18. But Regis would answer and take the set 25-20 and end the match at 3-0. WNMU was hurt by the loss of All RMAC selection Angelina Pulu, who was out with an injury. WNMU finished the season at 15-15, but will return all but 2 players: Verhulsdonk and Rux.