DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University Volleyball team proved their top-seeded dominance Friday night, thundering to a fast three-set win on day one of the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament. Regis thrilled a packed house of raucous Ranger fans, overpowering their eighth-seeded opponent with a crushing attack. The result was a 25-15, 25-13, 25-21 victory – the 29^th of the year for RU. St. Mary's dropped to 19-12.

How It Happened: No. 9 Regis opened the match in the driver's seat, leaping out to one of their best starts of the season with an offense that fired on all cylinders. Kill after kill electrified the crowd and quickly swung the momentum in the Rangers' favor. By the time the Rattlers called their second timeout, RU was up 20-8 and hadn't made a single error at the net. The home team wrapped the set with a head-turning .552 team attack clip after putting away 17 kills on 29 attempts.
 
That lethal efficiency continued into the second, as Regis hitters had their way at the net. The dominating showing ended with another impressive kill percentage for the Rangers. As they had in the first, the RU squad finished the frame with just one attack error. Their .406 effort silenced a Rattlers team that had no response.
 
Ranked fifth nationally in blocks per game, the Regis block was surprisingly quiet in the first two sets. That silence ended in the third, however, when a monster block from Kristen Hornung and Silvia Basso reminded StMU of the Rangers' defensive threat. RU blockers would go on to stop another two in the finale.
 
Though the Rattlers battled through the night's closing moments, Regis' balanced attack was unrelenting. The back-and-forth struggle continued until the Rangers turned up the heat at 20-20. StMU called their final timeout with the Rangers up 22-20, but RU would not be slowed down. A sweep in sight, Regis stepped on the gas – eventually closing the night with kill from sophomore Nikki Kennedy.
 
Match Notes: The Rangers wrapped the match with 42 kills, compared to just 29 from the visiting Rattlers. Hornung set the pace, totaling 12 kills on 18 tries without a single error (.667). Kelsey Green added nine from the pin.
 
RU flexed their muscle from the service line as well, totaling a season-best ten aces behind four from both Green and junior Drew Rhamy.
 
Next Up For The Rangers: Regis faces a familiar foe in the next round of Regional play – they'll take on the fourth-seeded Orediggers of Colorado School of Mines. The Rangers won both meetings in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play this year. The winner of the 7:30 pm contest will advance to Saturday night's championship match.