ANGELO, TEXAS – LL Cool J once rapped, "Don't call it a comeback, we've been here for years." That was the slogan for the Colorado Mesa University volleyball team when it scored the final seven points in the fifth set to defeat Tarleton State 3-2 in the first round of the NCAA Div. II South Central Regional Tournament Thursday (Dec. 3).

The Mavs faced what some would say is an insurmountable deficit of 13-8 in the fifth and final set.

A kill by Audrey Steinkirchner would start the rally and give the serve back to CMU.

Strong serving from Abby Ney, who finished with a match-high five aces, slowed the Tarleton attack during the Mesa rally. Ney served one ace, and Erin Perez and Audrey Steinkirchner combined for three kills to lead 14-13.

With Ney serving match point, the Texanns turned to Hailey Roberts, who entered the match leading all of Div. II in kills averaging 6.7 per set. At first look Roberts appeared to have registered a kill off of a block by Audrey Steinkirchner, but on the way down the ball bounced off the head of Robert's out of bounds giving the win to Mesa.

Colorado Mesa (19-11) will face Arkansas-Fort Smith in the semifinals Friday (Dec. 4). The two teams squared off last year in the regional final in Brownson Arena with the
Lions ending the Mavs season with a 3-1 win.

The Mavs never trailed in the first set and hit .257 to win 25-17.

Mesa struggled offensively in the second set. CMU racked up nearly twice the number of errors (nine) than it did kills (five). The Mavs dropped the second set 25-16.

Both defenses dominated the third set. Neither team hit better than .100, but TSU won the third in extra points 26-24.

Tarleton hit a team-high .258 with a team-high 12 kills in the fourth. Facing a must-win situation, Mesa stepped up hitting a match-high .441 with a match-high 17 kills.
Colorado Mesa won the set 25-18 to force a fifth set.

Mesa used a balanced attack with four players finishing with 10 or more kills, including two with double-doubles.

Caitie Breaux led CMU with 14 kills and 13 digs. Erin Perez tallied the other double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs.

Abby Ney and Hattie Gianinetti combined for 21 kills.

By comparison, Tarleton had only two players with more than 10 kills. Xzache Mathis finished with a match-high 19 kills, and Hailey Roberts, the national leader in kills, was held to 18.

The serving game was a strong point for CMU who tallied 11 aces. Tarleton, who recorded five aces, relied on a 16-8 edge in blocks.

Mesa finished with leads in kills (57-52), attack percentage (.170 to .127), assists (56-49) and digs (68-64).

Ali Svorinic accounted for 50 of Mesa's 56 assists, and Taylor Woods made a team-high 18 digs.