In a match that had playoff implications, CSU-Pueblo lost a five-set thriller to Western New Mexico Friday, Nov. 4, away from home. 
A win would have helped the Pack host a first round playoff game, since they were tied with the Mustangs for second place in the West Division of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
The teams split the first two sets en route to the most competitive set of the match. The third set saw the Pack trailing 24-21, with the Mustangs about to take a two set to one lead. However, the Pack rallied behind senior Bernadette Pitre who had multiple kills and the Pack scored seven of the last nine points in the set to win 28-26.
The next set, however, wasn’t as desirable of an outcome for the Pack. The set once again came down to the last few points. With the score tied 23-23, the Mustangs converted the last two points to take the fourth set.
The difference in the match was the fifth and decisive set in which the Mustangs rose up to the occasion and took over by outscoring the Pack 7-4 to secure the match with a 15-11 win.
The loss means the Pack will finish in third place in the RMAC West Division and will have to travel to Adams State for the first round of the conference playoffs.
