LAS VEGAS, N.M. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs outside hitter Alyssa Brinton led the Mountain Lions with 16 kills and a. 452 hitting percentage as UCCS earned its fourth straight sweep in a 3-0 victory at New Mexico Highlands. The Mountain Lions (8-6, 5-1 RMAC) won in 26-24, 25-21 and 25-18 sets against Cowgirls (4-7, 1-5 RMAC) at the John A. Wilson Complex.

The teams tied 11 times and exchanged the lead four times in the first set. The Cowgirls were in position to secure the first set with a 24-21 lead before a kill from Anabela Cagen sparked a five-point run that provided the 26-24 victory for the Mountain Lions. New Mexico Highlands took a 13-9 lead in the second set, but a 10-2 UCCS run later in the set made it a 21-18 advantage. A kill from Taylor Smith and a service ace from Natasha Habert closed out the set in a 25-21 decision.

UCCS took an early 8-5 lead in the third set and held off New Mexico Highlands as the Cowgirls closed the lead down to a point four times, the last at 12-11. Smith started a 7-2 rally that led to a 19-13 advantage, and the Mountain Lions kept the Cowgirls from recording back-to-back points the rest of the night in the 25-18 victory. UCCS earned 17 of its 25 points off kills and hit .455 as a team. 

Brinton's 16 kills were her most since a 17-kill performance in five sets on Sept. 9, against Texas A&M-Commerce, and her .452 hitting percentage was her best since the 2016 season-opener. Taylor Hamilton added 12 kills in her fifth straight match with double-digit kills.

Raelynn Edge moved into fourth in UCCS freshmen assist records with 38 tonight and increased her total to 550. She is 37 assists off the record. Natasha Habert made 14 digs on defense and Aly Morgan tallied 11 for the Mountain Lions. Hamilton, Edge and Josie Russell each finished with three blocks.

The Mountain Lions extended their streak of 3-0 victories to four, the longest streak since a four-match streak from Oct. 10-23, 2009. UCCS has won eight of its last nine matches since Sept. 8.

UCCS will remain on the road for a Tuesday match at MSU Denver. The Roadrunners (8-6, 5-1 RMAC) swept Colorado State-Pueblo tonight.