Dominque Davis
The Paw Print
The Grizzlies were on the road again for the fourth straight week since their season began.
With an extremely tough start to their season, the ASU women packed up the bus again to head to Pueblo and Las Vegas, New Mexico this weekend.
Friday’s match against CSU Pueblo was one that was very anticipated by the Grizzlies. Friday night was the Grizzlies first time playing as a nationally ranked team, and they certainly held true to their accomplishment.
The ASU volleyball team won the first two sets of the night against the Thunderwolves but ended up dropping the third set and then finishing the fourth set strong with a 25-19, 25-17, 18-25, 25-22 victory in the Massari Arena on Friday night. This was ASU’s fifth straight win of the season.
Junior setter Gabriella Rifilato (Bayfield, Colo.) tallied 40 assists and 11 digs with eight kills for the night against the Thunderwolves. Junior right side hitter Letisha Spencer (Rio Rancho, N.M) also had a solid game recording 12 kills and 12 digs. Senior outside hitter Dominique Davis (Denver, Colo.) also had a double-double with 11 kills and 13 digs. Freshman Katherine Rifilato (Bayfield, Colo.) and Senior Valerie Garcia (Colorado Springs, Colo.) also had 12 digs each in the triumphant win over the Thunderwolves.
The win Friday night made it the fourth straight win for the Grizzlies over the Thunderwolves.
After Friday night’s game in Pueblo, the Grizzlie’s hit the road again and headed south to Las Vegas, New Mexico for their last match of the weekend against the New Mexico Highlands Cowgirls on Saturday night. The Grizzlies, who lost in 5 sets to the Cowgirls in their gym last year, were determined to make a turn around this year and that is exactly what they did. The Grizzlies had a 3 set victory on Saturday night in the Wilson Complex (25-19, 25-18, 25-20).
Juniors Letisha Spencer and Megan Tapia (Pueblo, Colo.) combined for 19 kills and each hit an outstanding .667 clip to help lead the team to another night of victory. Junior setter Gabriella Rifilato had 35 assists and four aces. The Grizzlies had seven serving aces and hit a .233. Junior Deprece Washington (Johnstown, Colo.) tallied eight kills for the night and senior Dominique Davis had seven.
Winning both games this weekend puts the Grizzlies at an impressive 11-1 overall record and places them first in the RMAC (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) with a 4-0 overall conference record.
The Grizzlies will finally get to play their very first home match of the season on Friday night against Colorado Mesa University who are 3-1 in the RMAC. The Grizzlies 11-1 start to a season is their best in the programs NCAA Division II era. If the Grizzlies win on Friday night against CMU, it will be Coach Lindy Mortensen’s 100th career victory. The match is set to start at 7 p.m.
At the match, students can join Adams State University’s first official fan club, Gang Green. The club is free to join and students who sign up, prior to or at the game, will receive a free Gang Green t-shirt and pizza after the game. There will also be a reserved section for Gang Green members. If any students are interested, contact Kelsie Kruger at kjkruger@adams.edu or by leaving a message at 719-587-8237. Students can also sign up at the game.
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