RAPID CITY, S.D. – On the road this weekend in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, the Regis University volleyball team began the two-game road stint with a dominating 3-0 win over the South Dakota School of Mines Hardrockers. The Rangers brought down the Hardrockers (4-13, 1-7 RMAC) in three straight sets to move to an overall record of 9-7 and 6-1 in the RMAC.

The first set favored South Dakota Mines in the beginning but RU would not allow that to last very long. A Diamond Ridley-Pierce kill tied the score 6-6 and that would be the last time the score would even throughout the remainder of the first set. The Rangers set the tone in the first with a 25-18 victory. 

The second set started off similar to the first as the competition was fairly even until a Maggie Steward kill tied the score again at 6-6. Seven straight Regis points brought the score to a comfortable Ranger lead. RU held the Hardrockers to 12 points throughout the entire second set and a kill by Steward quickly gave the Rangers an overall 2-0 lead on the match.

RU jumped out to an early 8-3 third set lead and continued to control the pace of the game throughout the remainder of the set. At one point, Regis led 22-11 before South Dakota Mines began battling to shorten the lead. The Hardrockers began to gain some offensive momentum but the Rangers were able to retaliate and secure the road win 25-16.

The Rangers were led by the offensive duo of Steward and Katie Klein. Steward led all scorers with 14 kills and a .344 attack percentage. Klein committed just one error in 24 attempts for 13 kills and a .500 attack percentage.

Regis held the Hardrockers to an .134 attack percentage recording ten blocks and 46 digs. Rebecca Sponcil led RU with 16 digs and added one service ace. Brinley Beresford assisted on 25 plays and chipped in with one kill, one service ace, six digs, and one block.

RU travels to Black Hills State Saturday, October 10 at 5:30 p.m. before returning home next week.