After losing two straight games, 3-2 to Fort Lewis on Tuesday and 3-1 to Western New Mexico on Friday, the volleyball team has dropped to fourth in the RMAC standings.

Tuesday’s match at Fort Lewis was back and forth the whole night with 12 lead changes and 26 ties throughout the match. After dropping the fourth set and sending the game to a decisive fifth set, CMU couldn’t hang on in what would have been a season sweep against the Skyhawks (27-25, 23-25, 20-25, 25-16, 15-8).

Jordyn Moody finished the night with 52 of her team’s 54 assists.

The Mavericks (19-7, 11-6 RMAC) came out strong on Friday night against the Mustangs and took the first set, but Western New Mexico took control the rest of the night by winning three straight sets to defeat CMU (18-25, 25-20, 25-21, 25-19). Sunni Rae Baird finished with a match-high 21 digs while Melissa Hess had 17 kills.

With only two games left, both of which are at home, coach Dave Fleming hopes to get the team back on track and finish the regular season strong.

“We have a great bunch of student-athletes, and it has been fun working with them day in and day out,” Fleming said. “We would love to win every match, but we have a lot of improvements from last year. We have talent and weapons in every position, but we have to work on consistency and bringing it more often.”

The Mavericks, who have improved since last season’s 17-11 mark, know they have the players and the skills to make it in the RMAC tournament. They just have to get back their confidence and continue to play volleyball the way they know how.

“Getting the attitude of “relentlessness attack” back,” Fleming said. “I truly feel that if this team hits it on all six cylinders that we can make a long run into the RMAC tournament.”

With CMU’s middle attackers Hess and Abby Ney and Baird’s defense, Fleming feels they will continue to be big factors the last two games and into the playoffs.

CMU takes on CSU-Pueblo (10-17, 7-10 RMAC) Friday night at 7 p.m. before playing New Mexico Highlands (12-14, 6-11 RMAC) on Saturday in Brownson Arena at 7 p.m.

almahan@mavs.coloradomesa.edu