COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs senior outside hitter
Kim Catlett made 15 kills and sophomore
Taylor Hamilton added 10 kills as the Mountain Lions (13-6, 8-2 RMAC) swept Western New Mexico (14-4, 9-1 RMAC) in 25-19, 25-20 and 25-21 sets tonight in the Gallogly Events Center. It was the first conference loss for the Mustangs and it moved the Mountain Lions into a five-way tie for second in the RMAC standings.
The teams tied seven times and exchanged the lead three times in the first set. UCCS broke the final tie with a four-point run in the first set and the defense held Western New Mexico to a negative team hitting percentage to win the opening set 25-19 against the Mustangs. Both teams turned in their best hitting performances of the night in the second set, but a 5-1 run by UCCS midway through the set would be enough to hold off the Mustangs and take a 2-0 match lead on a 25-20 set win.
Western New Mexico opened the third set with an 8-2 run and earned five of the points off of three kills and two blocks. UCCS continued to push through and didn't take a timeout, and a kill from Hamilton on the next point sparked a 7-1 Mountain Lion run to tie the set at 9-9. The Mustangs rebuilt a three-point lead and held it at 15-12 before UCCS scored the next six points turn the deficit into an 18-12 lead. Western New Mexico pulled back to within a point at 22-21, but the Mountain Lions used back-to-back-to-back kills to close out the match in a 25-21 set win.
Catlett led both teams in kills and made seven of her 15 kills in the second set. Hamilton hit .350 in her seventh match this season with a performance greater than .300.
Cassidy Bush led UCCS with three blocks and added six kills on offense.
Morgan Evans provided 33 assists and
Natasha Habert returned to the court for the first time in nearly two weeks to lead the team with 11 digs.
The win moved UCCS into a tie for second in the RMAC standings with Colorado Mines, MSU Denver, Regis and Colorado Mesa. Western New Mexico remains in first, but with a one-match lead against the five teams in second. The top eight teams will play in the RMAC Tournament that begins in just more than a month at the sites of the top four seeds.
The Mountain Lions will remain at home on Saturday for a 5 p.m., match against New Mexico Highlands. The Cowgirls (6-13, 2-8 RMAC) fell in three sets to MSU Denver tonight.
