LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Westminster women's volleyball team began its final road trip of the season with a 3-1 loss (25-22, 15-25, 21-25, 22-25) at New Mexico Highlands on Friday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.
 
Westminster (4-20, 2-13 RMAC) started fast as they piled up 16 kills and hit .333 in their first set win. They would record just 31 kills the rest of the night, with 15 coming in the fourth set, as New Mexico Highlands (6-15, 3-13) picked up their attack.
 
The Cowgirls had 60 kills on the night and hit .268 as a team. They recorded at least 14 kills in every set and had 17 in the second. Westminster finished at 1.56 hitting while getting six service aces and eight blocks.
 
Amara Spere led the Griffin offense with 16 kills while hitting .146. She notched her third double-double of the year with 10 digs and she added five blocks and three aces. Sydnee Simmons provided a second option for the team as she recorded a career-high 11 kills.
 
The Griffins got 56 digs as a team with Savannah Ipsen recording a career-best 18. Simmons added three blocks to her stat line. Taylor Gustafson led the way with 45 assists.
 
NMHU got 21 kills from Jasmine Dixon and 16 from Caroline Hansen. Bryanna Lopez led all players with 23 digs.
 
Westminster will play the second of their three straight road matches on Saturday when they face Colorado State – Pueblo. The match will begin at 7 p.m. and be broadcast live on the RMAC Network.