DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University volleyball team did not go down quietly but ultimately fell to cross-town rival the Metropolitan State University of Denver Roadrunners 3-1. Prior to the start of the match, both teams were sitting in a four-way tie for second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. With conference positioning on the line, the Roadrunners offense could not be matched as the Rangers drop to an overall record of 13-10 and 10-4 in the RMAC.

The Rangers were slow to get started in the first set allowing MSU Denver to push to a 10-5 lead. Failing to swing momentum in favor of RU, the Roadrunners were able to take a 1-0 match lead with the 25-15 first set win. 

Regis came out a different team at the start of the second set as Cedar Bellows gave the Rangers a 5-0 lead recording three service aces, two in a row. MSU Denver rallied to even the score 9-9 as the lead jockeyed back-and-forth but RU was able to regroup to dominate the remainder of the second set defeating the home team 25-17.

The RMAC showdown proved just that as Maggie Steward opened the third set off with back-to-back kills. Both teams battled for position as the score would tie six times before MSU Denver extended the lead to giving them some cushion. RU's comeback fell short as the Roadrunners took a 2-0 match lead with the 25-31 third set victory. 

The Rangers held control of the lead in the beginning of the fourth set but MSU Denver, yet again, was able to even the score 9-9 and eventually take a hold of the lead for good. RU could not muster up an attack or put a stop to the heavily favored Roadrunner offense falling 25-16.

Steward led RU offensively putting down 15 kills for a .205 attack percentage. Diamond Ridley-Pierce also tallied double-digit kills with 11 and had four of the Rangers ten blocks at the net. Alessandra Orlandini produced her best defensive game thus far this season with 19 digs and Rebecca Sponcil chipped in with 16. Bellows ended the night with four service aces.

An all-around strong night for MSU Denver as they had two sets hitting at a bolstering .300 or higher while also taking a 22-10 blocking advantage over Regis. The Rangers saw more offensive attempts, 155-135, but it was the Roadrunners that were more efficient committing just 16 errors to the Rangers 28. 

RU will head to UC-Colorado Springs Saturday, October 31 for another RMAC clash. First serve is set for 5 p.m.