Adams-led Mountaineers claim tight RMAC victory
ALAMOSA, Colo.— The Adams State College volleyball squad got a balanced attacking effort from its front line, including an 18-kill effort from Alamosa native Tiffany Stockebrand, but it was the Western State College Mountaineers that prevailed in an intense Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference match Saturday evening in ASC’s Plachy Hall. Two of the match’s four games went to extra points as WSC, led by 21 Heather Adams kills, slid past the Grizzlies in a 29-31, 30-25, 31-29, 30-25 win.
The loss puts the Grizzlies at 3-13 overall and 2-5 in RMAC play while the Mountaineers improved to 10-5 overall and 5-2 in the conference.
ASC’s Janie Elkins (Berthoud, Colo.) had a solid 21-dig, 12-kill double-double, while sophomore Jessie Pickens (Cortez, Colo.) had 17 digs in her return from an ankle injury. Redshirt freshman Darcy Jennings (Lakin, Kan.) nearly pulled off a double-double, knocking down 10 kills while picking up a solo block and assisting on eight others. Junior Ashly Heikes (Hardington, Neb.) had 55 assists in her second straight match as the Grizzlies’ setter.
The Grizzlies rallied back from a 24-20 deficit in game one to tie the game at 26 on a Jennings-Stockebrand kill. The Mountaineers then took the next two points on two straight Amanda Passehl kills. After an ASC timeout, the Grizzlies fought their way back to a tie, then took a 29-28 lead on a Jennings service ace, forcing a Western State timeout.
The Mountaineers then tied things up with a Melissa Tucker kill, one of her seven, but Stockebrand put the game away for the Grizzlies with a pair of thundering kills.
WSC then edged back to a tie match, taking the lead from the start of game two to claim the 30-25 win. The Mountaineers used a .333 hitting percentage in that game along with seven Adams kills and three team blocks en-route to the win.
Game three was another nail-biter, as the Grizzlies nearly pulled off another come-from-behind win. Down 18-24 and 20-25, the Grizzlies scrapped their way back to a 28-28 tie on three straight Jennings kills. Gina Meyer (Blanding, Utah) then gave the Grizzlies their first lead of the game with one of her 12 kills of the night, but two Mountaineer kills and a Stockebrand attacking error gave WSC the 31-29 win and a 2-1 edge in games.
The Mountaineers then scored seven of nine points in game four to stretch a 19-18 lead into a 26-20 edge, cruising to the game and match victory.
ASC has now lost four of its last five, but will remain at home to face RMAC West Division foes Fort Lewis College and Mesa State College next Friday and Saturday, respectively. Game time for both matches is set for 7 p.m. in Plachy Hall. Saturday’s match can also be heard on KSPK, 103.5 FM in Alamosa or online at www.kspk.com.
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