DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University volleyball team (28-3) owned the night Saturday, dominating in three-straight sets to beat cross-town rival Metropolitan State University of Denver, earning the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Tournament title. The championship came in front of a rowdy Regis crowd, and marked the fifth-ever for the Rangers – their first since 2012.  
 
"It was an awesome environment tonight," reflected RMAC Coach of the Year Joel List. "Our crowd was so helpful, and these girls played their hearts out. We knew it was going to be a battle and it was, despite the scores. Metro did a good job of battling the whole night."
 
Still, despite tough opposition from the Roadrunners, RU commanded control for most of the match. The result was a satisfying ending to Regis' 2017 RMAC campaign.

How It Happened: Fans in the Fieldhouse saw fireworks from the very first points of the opening set. Though the Rangers started a little slow, the home team found their groove midway through the game, turning a 12-15 deficit around with Drew Rhamy leading the charge at the service line. By the time the score moved to 17-17, MSU Denver was on their heels and headed for a timeout.
 
Quick adjustments settled the Roadrunners and the squads traded points from there. Up one late in the game, MSU Denver missed a critical serve to move the score to a knot at 22's. An ensuing kill from junior Kristen Hornung got the RU to within two of the win, and a big time ace from junior Kristina Schell set up set point. Sophomore Silvia Basso dump shot found the floor to get Regis the win and the 1-0 advantage in the match.
 
Riding high, the Rangers jumped out to a 6-3 lead in the second. Senior Caitlyn Martinez ignited as the set wore on, punishing the Roadrunners from the right side with a heavy assault and clever point-scoring tips. RU's back-row defense also helped Regis, frustrating MSU Denver hitters with a frantic persistency that would not let up. The Rangers' offense fired on all cylinders as a result, putting away 16 balls and operating at .324 kill percentage. RU won the set 25-20.
 
As they had in the second, Regis thundered out of the gates to start the final set – gaining momentum with each statement-setting block at the net. By the time the Roadrunners took their first timeout – prompted by a thunderous Caitlyn Burroway kill from the pin – the Rangers held an early 9-4 lead.  
 
RU rolled from there, executing at a lethal clip and showing no struggle on defense or in the passing lanes. Though MSU Denver scrapped to stay in the game, Regis' resolve would not be shaken. Martinez continued to threaten on offense, and the Rangers followed her lead – cruising to a 25-21 win and a sweep on the night.
 
"We worked so hard this season, and so hard to get here," commented Kennedy after the win, "that win tonight was so important to us."
 
Match Notes: Martinez wrapped the night as the best hitter in the match, totaling 11 kills and a scorching .588 attack percentage. The senior also totaled five blocks to help Regis to a nine-block team effort.
 
"I couldn't be more proud of Caitlyn," continued List. "She is a fighter – has been ever since she came here – and all of her hard work has paid off. I hope other players see that if you put in that hard work, day in and day out, and be respectful about it, great things will come. That happened tonight. It's a testament to how hard she's worked."
 
Martinez, on the other hand, credits her coaches and teammates, noting that her success as an opposite is "a combination of Joel as our coach, Nikki and Kristen in the middle opening up right side up for me, (Silvia Basso) setting and our passers sending great balls…it was definitely a team effort."
 
The tournament MVP, Kennedy made her presence in the finale known, scoring 13 Ranger points with ten kills and six assisted blocks. Rhamy punished from the service line with three aces, while freshman All-Tournament selection Burroway led RU with ten digs. Sophomore Kelsey Green and Martinez also earned All-Tournament honors for her efforts in post-season play.

Next Up For The Rangers: Saturday's win solidifies Regis' spot at number one in the region, and secures home-court advantage for the South-Central Regional in two weeks.   
 
"It'll be good to host regionals and to have our crowd back," List concluded.
 
The Rangers will have two weeks to rest and prepare for the opponent they will face in first-round National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament action. That opponent will not be set until Monday's NCAA Division II Volleyball selection show at 5:30 pm (MST). In the meantime, they'll relish a win they've chased since 2012 – and set their eyes on one they have dreamed of getting since before the season even started.