SILVER CITY, New Mexico (September 18, 2015) - In the first leg of a three match road trip, the Colorado State University-Pueblo women's volleyball team's late rally wasn't enough, as the ThunderWolves fell 3-2 (28-30, 21-25, 25-23, 25-19, 3-15) to Western New Mexico University.
With the loss the Pack drop to 2-7 (0-1 RMAC), while the Mustangs jump to 6-3 (1-0 RMAC.)
The reigning Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week Oni Lattin (Sr., MB/RS, Houston, Texas) sent back three attacks. She also had a match-high 19 kills and Mariangel Perez (Jr., OH/RS, Catia La Mar, Venezuela) fired in 15 of her own.
Alex Sansavera (R-Sr., DS/S, San Antonio, Texas) extended her streak of 11 assists or more in a match to 38, as she assisted on 21 points.
Two members of the Mustangs earned 13 kills for a team-high, as Sheila Menezes and Leeta Grap both reached the mark.
From a team standpoint the statistics were close, as the Mustangs accumulated 62 kills versus the Pack's 60 and had the slight advantage in assists 58-57. The ThunderWolves though earned more digs, 78-76.
CSU-Pueblo and WNMU opened the match in a grit and grind set going back and forth, as the Pack held their own until the Mustangs pulled out a 30-28 first frame victory to go up 1-0.
With the first stanza victory came a jolt of momentum for Western New Mexico, as it went on to win the second leg 25-21 to extend their advantage 2-0. The ThunderWolves though went on to change the course of the match in the third set with a 25-23 counterpunch to cut the deficit 2-1.
Going into the fourth frame the Pack continued the offensive attack to win comfortably 25-19 and tie things up 2-2. The ThunderWolves were in control and the Mustangs were in a slump going into the final set, but WNMU flipped the switch to dominate the fifth set 15-3.
Up next for CSU-Pueblo, the second leg of the road trip consists a showdown with New Mexico Highlands University Saturday at 7 p.m.
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
