Box Score PUEBLO, Colo. – Visiting Adams State gave Colorado State University Pueblo all it could handle in a matinee match-up between RMAC foes, but ended up on the wrong end of a 3-2 decision in a 24-26, 25-20, 18-25, 25-19, 15-8 win for the host Thunderwolves.
 
Redshirt sophomore Cindy Garcia led three Grizzlies in double-figure kills with a team-high 15, also leading the ASU defense with 12 kills in the marathon.
 
Anna Huggins added 12 kills and Riley Rabedeaux 11 as ASU falls to 4-10 overall and 1-5 in RMAC play.
 
ASU took an early 6-4 lead in the opener after a Garcia service ace, stretching its lead to as much as four points thrice, the last coming at 20-16 after another ace, this time courtesy of Rabedeaux.
 
The Thunderwolf closed their gap by going on an 8-4 run to knot the set, but a Rabedeaux flush and another sizzling serve by Garcia gave ASU a hard-fought 26-24 set one win.
 
The hosts regrouped in set two, opening up a 12-5 lead before two kills by Huggins and one by Kendal O'gilvie brought ASU to within three at 12-9, prompting a Pueblo time-out.
 
That proved beneficial as the hosts went on a 5-4 run to keep the Grizzlies at arm's length, turning a 21-18 lead into a 25-20 set two win to tie the match.
 
ASU turned the tables on the Thunderwolf in set three, storming to an early 8-3 lead after four-straight points off of Garcia's serve and increasing its edge to seven at 21-14 after kills by Huggins and Gallegos, and a pair of Pueblo attack errors.
 
Holding a 24-18 set point, Garcia did the honors, putting away the final point of the set to give ASU a two-sets-to-one advantage.
 
The Grizzlies used that momentum to score set four's first four points behind Madeleine Benally's serve, only to have the Thunderwolf storm back and get to within 7-6.
 
Down two at 11-9, the hosts surged again, going on a 12-0 run to seize control of the frame and withstanding a late ASU rally en route to a 25-19 win to even the match and force a winner-take-all fifth.
 
In the deciding set, the two teams split the first 10 points before the hosts went on a 5-2 run to take control of the frame.  A Gallegos hammer stalled the Pueblo surge to bring ASU to 10-8, but CSUP reeled off the final five points of the set to take the set, and the match 3-2.
 
The Grizzlies hit .197 for the match and benefited from nine service aces, but Pueblo put away 13 more balls and hit .238 in the five-set struggle.
 
ASU returns home next weekend looking to get back into the win column, hosting Colorado School of Mines on Friday for a 7 pm first serve.