Denver, Colo. – This weekend was perhaps one of the toughest of the season for Regis Volleyball, but a quick glance at the results from Friday and Saturday won't show it. One night after downing Colorado Christian in straight sets, the Rangers plowed through the RMAC's top-ranked Colorado Mines Orediggers – getting a sweep over the nation's 18^th-ranked team to make a power move in the conference standings. The Rangers now sit atop the league with a 14-1 mark (22-3 overall) with just two weeks remaining in RMAC play.

How It Happened: When a pair of heavy hitters collide, sparks usually fly. That was the case on Saturday night, as the squads traded blows for much of the contest. Leads and ties were the tale of the opener, as through 17 points Mines and Regis battled for the advantage in the set. With the score knotted there, a Caitlyn Martinez kill sparked a run that would set the tone for the match. Regis rattled off eight of the next 11 points, taking advantage of untimely CSM errors and three big Nikki Kennedy kills to end the game at 25-19.
 
Of course though the Rangers owned the first set, a strong Mines squad would challenge RU with talent and experience. Using a balanced attack, the Orediggers pushed back in the second, rallying from an early 10-4 defecit to tie the game at 24s. Their efforts earned them the momentum they'd need in a meeting of the league's best, but wasn't enough to propel the visiting Orediggers to a win in game two. Regis hitters Caitlyn Burroway and Kristen Hornung finished the Mines squad off with a pair of kills, sending the previously unbeaten (RMAC) Orediggers to the locker room a set away from defeat.
 
The Rangers, on the other hand, tasted blood. With their sights set on a critical late-season win, Regis jumped out early, taking a 3-1 advantage with patient defense and more crushing offensive work. Mines refused to go down without a fight however, battling back every time the Rangers mounted a run.
 
Still, Regis' weapons proved tough to match – even for one of the best squads in the country. With Sylvia Basso directing the assault, RU kept pounding. Down 18-16 deep into the set, the Rangers turned things up. For the second-straight night, Regis responded to every surge made by their opponent – using infamous blocks and timely kills to stay in control. On their way to a statement-setting win, the Rangers sprinted to the finish. A 9-4 run earned them the 25-22 final set win.
 
"I'm proud of the team tonight," remarked Head Coach Joel List after the match. "We were very composed and executed the things we worked on. Mines didn't make it easy on us. We will savor the moment, but have lots more volleyball left and need to keep getting better."
 
Match Notes: Caitlyn Burroway, Nikki Kennedy and Caitlyn Martinez led the Regis attack, combining for 31 kills to help Regis to a .313 team attack clip. Kennedy and Martinez totaled just one error between them, with Martinez hitting a season-best .625. Kennedy helped Regis to an eight-block effort after shutting down Mines hitters with two solo and four assisted blocks.
 
Next Up For The Rangers: Regis returns to the road next weekend, traveling to South Dakota for a pair of RMAC matches against Black Hills State and South Dakota Mines. The Rangers take on BHSU Friday at 7 pm in Spearfish.