Stockebrand led Grizzlies claim 5-game road win over NMHU
LAS VEGAS, N.M. - A night after dropping its fifth straight 5-game match, the Adams State College volleyball squad rebounded to take a 3-2 victory over the host New Mexico Highlands University Cowgirls in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Saturday night in NMHU's John A. Wilson Complex. The 31-29, 29-31, 24-30, 30-20, 15-9 victory is ASC's first 5-game win since Oct. 21, 2005 when the Grizzlies took the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs to five games on the road.
The important West Division win moves ASC's record to 3-11 overall and 2-3 in RMAC play. NMHU fell to 6-8 overall.
ASC had five players with 11 or more kills led by senior Tiffany Stockebrand's (Alamosa, Colo.) 18, while junior Janie Elkins (Berthoud, Colo.) turned in a career-high 23 digs in a solid defensive effort. Sophomore setter Tagen Bierley also dished out 59 assists.
The Grizzlies came from behind to claim game one, going on a 9-3 run to end the game, ralling back from a 22-27 deficit to claim the 31-29 win. Stockebrand, Elkins and freshman Gina Meyer (Blanding, Utah) had two kills each in that run.
Game two was almost a mirror image of game one as the Cowgirls fought back from a 28-21 deficit to win 31-29. NMHU used three Kelsey Anderson kills and several Grizzly attacking errors to facilitate that run. The two teams battled through eight ties in that game and headed into the break tied at a game apiece.
Game three was slightly less intense as NMHU went up early and led 27-15 midway through the game before letting the Grizzlies back into the contest. ASC used a 9-1 run to climb back to within four points before NMHU cruised to the win.
ASC scrapped their way back into contention with an easy 30-20 win in game four to force a decisive fifth game. The Cowgirls leaped out to a 4-0 lead to open that game before two Elkins kills and a Leah Hill (Fort Collins, Colo.) and Gina Meyer block put the Grizzlies back in the game.
The Grizzlies then went up 10-7 later in the game before cruising to the 15-9 game and match win.
The Grizzlies won't have much time to dwell on the weekend split as ASC is back in action Tuesday evening in Pueblo, taking on Colorado State University-Pueblo in another RMAC West Division match. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Pueblo-Centenniel High School.
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