The Lady Mustangs continue to build momentum towards the postseason and they will close the regular season on Saturday at home against in-state rival New Mexico Highlands University for Senior Day at 2 p.m. Come out and support the team with FREE admission.
WNMU, 18-7 on the season and 13-4 in the RMAC, have already clinched a spot in next week’s conference tournament. The Lady Mustangs are currently tied for third in the conference with Regis and Colorado Mesa. If the standings remain the way they do now with MSU Denver winning, along with WNMU, Regis and Colorado Mesa tied, then the Lady Mustangs would be the fourth seed on tiebreakers and would host Colorado Mesa.
WNMU could also end up being the fifth seed if WNMU, Regis, Colorado Mesa and MSU Denver tied for second, then the Lady Mustangs would end up fifth out of that group. If they tie with Colorado Mesa and MSU Denver for second, they would end up fourth, same if they tied with Regis and MSU Denver. The top four teams host the first round, with the top remaining seed hosting the final four remaining teams.
Every match from here on out will be big for WNMU as they try to make their move into the regional tournament. The Lady Mustangs entered the South Central region rankings this week for the first time in ninth. The top eight teams will make the regional tournament. Each conference in the region (RMAC, Lone Star and Heartland) all have automatic bids for the conference tournament winners.
Leeta Grap continues to power the offense with 331 kills (3.76 per set). Shannon Rich adds 187, Heather Verrill with 181, Sheila Menezes with 137, Kelli McGhiey with 114 and Morgan Lyneis with 108. Melanie Hughes has dished out 578 assists, while on defense Ashley Mataele has 415 digs to 274 for Grap. In terms of blocking Rich leads the way with 81 and Verrill with 79.
Grap is in the top-100 nationally in four categories including 46th in kills per set, third in the RMAC, 58th in attacks per set (10.48), third in the RMAC, 64th in points per set (4.11), fourth in the RMAC and 86th in total kills, fourth in the RMAC. She is also fourth in the RMAC in total attacks with 922.
Several other Lady Mustangs rank high in RMAC individual categories. Hughes is fifth in aces per set (0.37) and 10th in assists per set (7.92). Rich is sixth in total blocks, eighth in blocks per set (0.88) and 10th in hitting percentage (.283). Verrill is third in hitting percentage (.307) and eighth in total blocks. Mataele is sixth in digs per set (4.51).
As a team, WNMU ranks in the top-100 nationally in assists per set (12.22) 56th, digs per set (16.74) 89th, kills per set (12.96) 68th, match win-loss percentage (.720) 56th, opposition hitting percentage (.136) 28th, team attacks per set (37.32) 67th. The Lady Mustangs are in the top-five in the RMAC in assists per set, fourth, digs per set, second, hitting percentage, fourth, match win-loss percentage, second, opposition hitting percentage, lead the conference, team attacks per set, third and teams digs (1,540), third.
New Mexico Highlands University is 7-20 on the season and 3-14 in RMAC matches. They collected a win last time out with a sweep at Fort Lewis. That snapped an eight-match losing streak.
WNMU cruised to a sweep in the earlier meeting in Las Vegas back on Sep. 22. Five players have over 100 kills paced by Andrea Nunez’s 245. The Cowgirls have used three main setters all with over 200 assists led by Tarissa Mellin’s 295. Andrea Nunez leads in digs with 212, while in terms of blocking Katie Trammel has 70 to lead the squad.
It will also be Senior Day for the four Lady Mustang seniors in Barbara Soranzo, Chyler Imai, Sheila Menezes and Leeta Grap. Soranzo, Menezes and Grap all transferred in as juniors, while Imai has been with WNMU all four years of her collegiate career.
For those that can’t make it to the game with FREE admission, live video and stats will be available.