Volleyball Wins Twice Near Regular Season End

Dominique Davis
The Paw Print

The Grizzlies were back at it again in Plachy Hall this weekend against New Mexico Highlands University and Colorado State Pueblo.
With the regular conference play quickly coming to an end, the Grizzlies were now more determined than ever to bring their best game out there this weekend.  Having played both NM Highlands University and CSU-P one before, the Grizzlies knew what to expect and also knew that both teams had nothing to lose and would come out hard against them.
The Grizzlies wanted nothing more than to get two wins this weekend and to finish strong with the next two upcoming home games. Finishing strong is exactly what the Grizzlies did on their home court with their amazing fans able to witness it.
On Friday night, the Grizzlies took on the Cowgirls from New Mexico Highlands University for the second time this weekend. The Grizzlies reached their 20th win on Friday night for the first time since 1993 with a 25-14, 25-23, 25-20 victory over the NMHU Cowgirls. This win was the Grizzlies seventh straight win and helped them improve to 20-4 overall and moved them into a second place tie with Regis University in the RMAC. NMHU fell to 6-20 overall and 2-14 in the RMAC.
Senior outside hitter Dominique Davis (Denver, Colorado) became Adams State University’s Division II era (1992-present) career kills leader on Friday night. Davis had eight kills and now has 1,354 for her career. Junior middle hitter, Deprece Washington (Johnstown, Colo.) led the Grizzlies with nine kills and six blocks. Junior right side hitter, Letisha Spencer (Rio Rancho, NM) put down eight kills on a .600 hitting effort. She also had nine digs and four blocks. Senior libero Valerie Garcia (Colorado Springs, Colo.) had a match high ten digs. Junior setter Gabriella Rifilato (Bayfield, Colo.) had 35 assists against the cowgirls.
Saturday night’s match was against the Colorado State University-Pueblo Thunderwolves. The Grizzlies played well the first and second sets and struggled a little bit during the third. The Grizzlies bounced back during the fourth set though and claimed their eight straight win in a 25-14, 25-14, 21-25, 25-12 victory over the visiting Thunderwolves in Plachy Hall. The Grizzlies not only defeated the Thunderwolves but also clinched the RMAC West Division Title which they shared with Western New Mexico last year.
The Grizzlies now have an RMAC best 21-4 overall record and a 14-3 record in the conference. ASU’s winning streak is the longest active streak in the RMAC. The Grizzlies will be hosting the RMAC quarter final match on Tuesday November 13, 2012. Senior Valerie Garcia had a career-high-matching 23 digs on Saturday night. Juniors Deprece Washington and Letisha Spencer each had thirteen kills and another twelve kills from freshman outside hitter Lindsey Stindt (Norwood, Colo.). Junior Gabriella Rifilato had fifty assists and 13 digs. Junior middle hitter Megan Tapia (Pueblo, Colo.) had nine kills on a .500 hitting effort.
The Grizzlies will remain at home for their last two regular season games against Western State (4-21, 3-14 RMAC)  on Tuesday and Western New Mexico (14-13, 11-6 RMAC) on Friday. Both matches will begin at 7 p.m.