WICHITA FALLS, Texas – In a three-set sweep, Midwestern State defeated Adams State in their season opener at D.L. Ligon Coliseum in Wichita Falls, Texas, with a 3-0 victory. The Mustangs claimed the sets 25-13, 25-21, and 26-24 in front of their home crowd.
"Tonight was a tough one against a very confident looking MSU program. We are looking forward to the rest of the weekend and working on handling our controllables better, as we did compete hard for stretches of the match, but we were not able to string enough points together to push the match into extra sets," said Head Coach Garcia Ramser.
Adams State had strong individual performances, with redshirt senior Cindy Garcia leading the Grizzlies with 13 kills on 29 attempts, hitting .207 and contributing 14 total points. She was crucial to the team's offensive efforts, especially in the third set, where Adams State mounted its strongest challenge of the match. Redshirt senior Anna Huggins was equally impactful, posting 12 kills on 32 swings, hitting .250, and adding 13.5 points overall. Her contributions were felt across all three sets, helping Adams State keep pace during key moments.
The Grizzlies also received notable support from sophomore Katie Bauer, who hit a stellar .500 with five kills on eight attempts, and senior Keely-Shae Sapiga, who provided stability on defense with five digs. Redshirt senior setter Remi Vargas dished out 15 assists and added 12 digs, showcasing her ability to contribute on both ends of the court.
However, Adams State struggled with errors throughout the match, recording 26 attack errors, which limited its ability to maintain momentum. The team's offensive rhythm was often disrupted, leading to a low overall hitting percentage of .113. These inconsistencies made it difficult for the Grizzlies to build on promising moments, especially when trying to extend rallies and capitalize on Midwestern State's defensive lapses.
Despite the struggles, Adams State showed improvement in the third set, pushing Midwestern State to extra points but ultimately falling short.
On the Midwestern State side, Demi Stauffenberg and Gabrielle Oos were pivotal, combining for 20.5 points. Stauffenberg led her team with 10 kills, while Oos contributed six kills and hit an impressive .400. The Mustangs maintained a more consistent team performance, finishing with a .174 hitting percentage and capitalizing on Adams State's errors.
Despite Adams State's efforts, particularly in the third set, where there were five lead changes and 12 ties, Midwestern State's consistency and reduced errors proved to be the difference-makers in this season opener.
The Grizzlies roll into games two and three of the 2024 season tomorrow at the Midwestern State Tournament facing off against Western New Mexico at 10 a.m. and Northwestern Oklahoma State at 2 p.m.
