Box Score

Thursday morning after an early morning practice the CMU women's volleyball team (15-10, 9-8 RMAC) loaded the bus and hit the road for a long ride to Silver City New Mexico to take on the second best team in the west division of the RMAC, the Western New Mexico Mustangs (13-13, 10-6 RMAC). The Mavericks won the match in four sets over the Mustangs (22-25, 25-13, 25-21, 25-12)

The first set went the way of the Mustangs, as they led most of the way and picked up the first set win. Melissa Hess returning from an ankle injury that kept her out for most of the Mavericks last home weekend had a strong first set as she led the team in kills with six.

The second set was a complete turnaround as the Mavericks came out swinging, and stretched the lead to over 10 points. CMU won the second set of the night with a sizeable gap over the Mustangs, 25-13.

“We all had the fight mentality tonight,” said freshman Christian Otzen. “We knew that if we played like we knew we could, we could control the match.”

Heading into the third set, both teams had settled in to the match with six lead changes and nine ties in the set. In the end it was the Mavericks outlasting the Mustangs 25-21, to go up 2-1 in the match.

CMU looked to avoid a long night in Silver City, so as soon as the fourth set started the Mavericks picked up the intensity. Christian Otzen improved her kill total 14 on the night as the Mavs beat the Mustangs quickly and with out much opposition 25-12.

“The team tonight did a great job stepping up defensively,” said assistant coach David Skaff. “We shut down their top hitters with big blocks and solid effort from the floor.”

Securing the match in dominant fashion over the Mustangs locked CMU in to the RMAC post season tournament with one week of regular season games remaining. 

“It feels really good, especially since we didn't make it last year.” Sophomore Melissa Hess said of the team making the tournament. “This year it's gonna be ours.”

The Mavericks travel to Pueblo next week to take on the CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves on Friday and close out the regular season at New Mexico Highlands on Saturday.