Box score

DURANGO, Colo. — Sometimes one player can beat you.
 
Tonight was proof, as New Mexico Highlands outside hitter Dairan Mullen exploded for 26 kills and a .352 hitting percentage as the Cowgirls (4-6 overall, 6-1 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) rallied from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Fort Lewis (4-6, 1-1) in five sets tonight (25-22, 18-25, 15-25, 25-12, 15-10) in Whalen Gymnasium.
 
“It's unfortunate that we let this one slip through our fingers because this one will come back to haunt us,” said ninth-year FLC head coach Shelly Aaland.
 
Fort Lewis, fresh off a three-set sweep of Colorado State-Pueblo — a team that came into last night's match with an 8-1 record — came out sluggish in the first set tonight, allowing Highlands to steal early momentum. It was NMHU's middles that made the difference early on, with Mariah White and Sarah Dirmeyer combining for nine kills in set one.
 
“We made adjustments in games two and three to neutralize their middle attack,” said the Skyhawk skipper.
 
With those adjustments made, the Skyhawks cruised through second and third sets taking them by relatively easy 25-18 and 25-15 scores.
 
“We then were unable to adjust to their outside (Mullen), who had her way with us,” said Aaland.
 
Then the wheels came off — in a big way. Set four saw the Cowgirls take a commanding 14-1 lead in which Aaland went deep into her bench to try to swing momentum. During the initial run, nine of NMHU's first 14 points came off Skyhawk hitting errors. Many of these attacks came after errant passes off Highlands' short serves — ironically, a ploy that worked to Fort Lewis' advantage serving against Colorado State-Pueblo one night earlier.
 
“We were continually surprised by it,” Aaland said of the short serves. “We had every opportunity to put the match away but made way too many unforced errors.”
 
The fifth set was a back-and-forth affair through the first eight points before three straight Skyhawk hitting errors allowed NMHU to take an 8-4 lead. From that point on, FLC could never trim the lead to fewer than two points.
 
Fort Lewis hit a dismal .078 during the match, with 34 hitting errors offsetting 46 kills. Junior outside hitter Hannah Starbuck — a player who saw most of her action in her first two seasons in the back row as a defensive specialist and libero — had another strong match with 15 kills and a .250 hitting efficiency. She also led FLC with 16 digs.
 
“Again, Hannah had a stellar evening, leading us in both kills and digs,” said Aaland.
 
Fort Lewis was strong at the net at various points in tonight's match, finishing with nine total blocks — including six by junior middle blocker Kristin Stephan (one solo, five block assists). Stephan also led the team with five service aces.
 
Highlands setter Rae Mulitalo notched 42 assists. Marina Samoa had 19 digs and four blocks, while Katie Saveedra had 17 digs, including several of the spectacular variety off of hard-hit balls.
 
Fort Lewis hopes to rebound at 7 p.m. Tuesday when they host Colorado Mesa (8-2, 2-0). The Mavs swept Colorado State-Pueblo in three sets tonight after doing the same to the Cowgirls last night.