LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs dropped the opening set in extra points but then won the next three to earn a 3-1 victory tonight against New Mexico Highlands at the John A. Wilson Complex. The Mountain Lions (11-7, 6-4 RMAC) won their third straight match with 25-27, 25-18, 25-19 and 25-17 set scores against the Cowgirls (5-10, 2-8 RMAC).

Tonight's win marked a season sweep of Highlands for UCCS and the second three-match winning streak of the season. The Mountain Lions moved into a tie for fifth in the RMAC standings with eight matches left in the regular season. 

UCCS and Highlands tied 13 times and exchanged the lead six times in the first set as neither team could take more than a two-point lead until late when the Mountain Lions led 21-18. The Cowgirls used a 6-2 run to reach set point at 24-23 before Taylor Hamilton tied the set with a kill at 24-24. UCCS took advantage off an attacking error to reach set point at 25-24 but the Cowgirls used a service ace and a pair of kills to secure the set in a 27-25 decision.

The teams tied seven times through 8-8 in the second set until UCCS put together a 10-4 run with eight kills, an ace and a block. The Cowgirls narrowed the Mountain Lion lead down to four points at 22-18 but UCCS scored the next three to even the match on a 25-18 win. The Mountain Lions hit .375 and scored 19 of their 25 points in the set with kills.

UCCS took an early 7-2 lead in the third set and held off a late 5-2 Highlands run to take the set 25-19. The Mountain Lions scored the first four points in the fourth set and never trailed to win the match on a 25-17 victory.

Cassidy Bush hit .419 with 15 kills in her best offensive performance of the conference season. Alyssa Brinton led UCCS with 17 kills and made four blocks in her third straight match with three or more blocks. Hamilton finished with 12 kills and Taylor Smith made 10 as a reserve player to round out the top hitters.

Morgan Evans made 53 assists and averaged 12.88 this weekend. She needs 298 assists to move into a tie for third in UCCS career records after she moved into fourth last night with 50 against Colorado State-Pueblo. Evans also made a season-high 12 digs on defense. Natasha Habert led both teams with 25 digs and Kenzi Mitchell led the Mountain Lion blockers with five blocks.

UCCS will be at home for the next two weekends and will start on Friday, Oct. 21, in a 7 p.m., match against Colorado Christian. Both teams are tied for fifth in the standings with a 6-4 conference record after the Cougars fell 3-1 tonight at Western State.