DENVER, Colo. –Looking to push their win streak to six, the Regis University volleyball team could not hold off the will and determination of the Colorado Christian Cougars falling in a five-set Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference clash Friday night.

The dramatics of this match began from the start as both teams fought to take the first set. The Rangers and Cougars went back-and-forth throughout much of the first set tying the score at 16, 17, and 18 before a Maggie Steward kill followed by a CCU attack error gave Regis a 22-20 lead. Colorado Christian battled to tie the score 24-24 and RU fell victim to back-to-back kills ending the first set 26-24.

The Rangers regrouped to take a 7-2 lead and force a Cougar timeout at the start of the second. RU continued to control the pace and momentum of the second set, always sitting comfortably with at least a five-point lead. Regis evened the match 1-1 with a 25-20 second set victory.

The offensive momentum of the second carried over into the third as RU forced another CCU timeout after jumping out to a 14-8 lead. The Rangers scored eight straight points with Katie Klein at the serve. Throughout that service span, Klein recorded two service aces. The Rangers held the Cougars to just 12 total points in the third set. A kill by Kristen Hornung put an end to the third set giving RU control of the match.

Colorado Christian would not go down without a fight. For the first time since the first, CCU controlled the fourth set. A service ace by the Cougars evened the score 14-14 but four straight points immediately put Regis back on their heels. RU would come within three but it was CCU that was able to pull out the fourth set 25-19 pushing the match to the fifth.

An energetic Cougar squad opened the fifth set strong and never looked back. As the benches switched sides at the halfway point, the score did not read favorable for the Rangers, 8-2. Colorado Christian kept hammering away and back-to-back service aces ended the fifth set 15-6. Regis moves to an overall record of 11-8 and 8-2 in the RMAC.

Three Rangers saw double-digit kills tonight led by Rachael McCue with 14, Katie Klein added 11, and Maggie Steward with ten. The box score reads fairly even in the attack percentage column, RU with .147 and CCU at .152 but it was the Cougars defense at the net that ultimately caused challenges for Regis. Colorado Christian tallied 26 blocks to RU's ten.

Rebecca Sponcil led the match with 21 digs and had one service ace. Brinley Beresford assisted on 37 plays and also had one service ace. Klein and Kristina Schell recorded two service aces apiece.

Rounding out the three-match week, Regis will face No. 21 Colorado Mines Saturday, October 17 at 5 p.m. in the Regis Fieldhouse.