SILVER CITY, N.M. – The Regis University volleyball team secured the sweep on the weekend defeating the Western New Mexico Mustangs in three straight sets. Prior to the match, the Mustangs (15-6, 10-3 RMAC) sat in a three-way tie for first in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference while the Rangers were in a three-way tie for second. As the RMAC regular season nears the end, each match is a crucial battle and Regis took care of business coming away from this weekend with two big wins.

From the start, both teams battled back-and-forth for possession as the score would tie ten times throughout the first. RU scored four straight points moving the score to 23-18 and the kills leader on the night, Katie Klein, finished off the first set victory, 25-22.

The Rangers carried their offensive momentum over into the start of the second set, jumping to a 10-4 lead and forcing a Mustang timeout. Western New Mexico attempted to battle back but the deficit was too large to overcome and Regis took a 2-0 match lead with a 25-20 second set win.

The third set seemed as if the Mustangs were determined to send the match to a fourth set but Regis rallied late. Western New Mexico held an 18-14 lead but three straight RU points forced the home team to a timeout in an attempt to slowdown a hot Ranger offense.

The Mustangs were at set point, 24-21, putting Regis on their heels but a resilient RU team took over tying the score 24-24. The score would tie two more times before the Rangers finished off the RMAC showdown 28-26 with back-to-back kills from Brinley Beresford and Maggie Steward.  

A strong night both offensively and defensively for RU as they took down one of the top teams in the RMAC. As a team, the Rangers had their fifth best night with an overall attack percentage of .261; Klein led the attack producing 12 kills and a .300 attack percentage. Steward added ten kills, nine digs, and one service ace. Both freshman setters saw action with Beresford recording 24 assists and Gabby Haugh adding 13.

Another solid night at defensively at the net, the Rangers tallied 15 blocks with Diamond Ridley-Pierce leading the charge at a season-high seven blocks, three solo and four assisted. Rebecca Sponcil chipped into the defensive efforts with a match-high 13 digs.

Regis moves to an overall record of 13-9 and 10-3 in the RMAC as they head into another weekend on the road. RU next travels to Metro State on Friday, October 30 at 7 p.m.