HOBBS, N.M. – Home sweet home.
 
The University of the Southwest women's volleyball team returned to the friendly confines of the Maddox Student Life Center Monday evening and made quick work of NCAA Division III Sul Ross State 25-19, 25-20, 25-19.
 
The win erases a six-game losing drought and gives the Mustangs a boost heading back into Red River Athletic Conference play this weekend at Our Lady of the Lake and Huston-Tillitson.
 
"Coming into the match I told the girls we need to have a winner-take-all mentality and come in ready to compete," USW head women's volleyball coach Angela Franke said following the match. "They (Sul Ross) had a smaller front row and we needed to capitalize on that. In our warm us and in the huddle that we need to get comfortable and confident with hitting and placing the ball."
 
Senior Ashley Preuss finished with a match-high 14 kills and recorded two digs and a block. Junior Hannah Massey was very efficient as well. The Las Cruces, New Mexico native added nine kills and a block. Massey also hit an impressive .389.
 
When Preuss and Massey weren't causing trouble in front of the net, it was senior Shelby Bartley laying the boom. The Canyon, Texas native recorded eight kills and hit a match-high .571. She also recorded two solo blocks.
 
Sophomore Brenda Pargas added 12 assists and six digs, while Miranda Tapia chipped in with nine assists and four digs. Senior Karina Grajeda played well from the libero position and contributed 20 digs and three kills.
 
As a team Mustangs hit .260, but it was in the first set the USW (4-9) offense was clicking and finished with a .433 hitting percentage. On the other side, the Blue and Red made it difficult for the visiting the Lobos. For the match, SRU hit a lowly .028 and committed 22 errors.