Hobbs, NM – The University of Southwest Volleyball team hosted the Our Lady of the Lake University Saints this weekend for an RRAC Conference matchup. The Lady Mustangs were facing their third conference opponent of the season in a tough OLLU team with a record of 7-4 coming into the series. 
 
Game 1
Our Lady of the Lake came out with an aggressive attack against the Lady Mustangs, getting out to an early lead in the first set. The Saints continued that pressure throughout the match and finished USW 25-16, 25-18, 25-13.
 
Senior Valeria Trevino led the way with seven kills for the Lady Mustangs, followed by Senior Alexia Esparza with six. Tapia also led the team with eleven assists, and Graduate Student Autumn Lopez contributed with twenty-two digs on the day. 
 
"We found ourselves playing down and holding back," said Coach Cassandra Smith. "We couldn't find our groove and allowed ourselves to be intimidated.
 
Game 2
OLLU established themselves early and got on top early against the Lady Mustangs. They continued that attack on the USW defense to ride to a 25-19 win in the first set of the match. 
After a back-and-forth affair, with several ties throughout, USW pulled out a second-set win against the Saints, 25-20, to even up the match.
 
The third set began with OLLU starting the same as they did in the first with a heavy attack and quick lead over the Lady Mustangs. USW worked to keep the score tight throughout, but the constant Saint pressure became too much as OLLU took it 25-16.
 
The fourth set started with USW going up 6-2, poised to even up the match. OLLU was able to come back and tie the set, turning it into another point-for-point run between the two sides. Unfortunately, the Saints overtook the Lady Mustangs during the final set and ended it 25-17. 
 
Trevino again led in the kills category with fifteen, and Esparza added nine of her own. Junior Gabriela Tapia provided sixteen assists, followed by A'Lon Clark with fifteen. Lopez added another nineteen digs to her total, and Graduate Student Kennedy McRuffin had fourteen. 
 
"We came together and put forth a much better effort and had consistent energy," Coach Smith said. "If we recognize when and how to capitalize, we can turn this around for ourselves." 

USW Volleyball will hit the road September 30th and October 1st to take on Paul Quinn College. Continue to follow USW Athletics and USW Volleyball on all social media for scores and updates throughout the season.