Denver, Colo. – The Regis University Volleyball team picked up another huge win Friday, crushing the Colorado School of Mines in four sets to advance to Friday night's South Central Regional Championship match. The electrifying face-off marked the third of the season between the RMAC regular season co-champions – though with a regional crown on the line, there has perhaps been no bigger of a match-up.

How It Happened: Regis opened the night in an all-out sprint - moving fast and crushing balls to go up 11-6. The Orediggers would eventually match pace, settling into a rhythm that neutralized things and cut into the Ranger lead. Uncharacteristic Ranger errors got the Mines squad back into the game, moving the score to 19-19.
 
The Rangers ignited from there. A Kelsey Green shot down the line put RU up 20-19, and a Silvia Basso, Nikki Kennedy block two points later had the home team fired up. Persistent blocks from the Rangers wore out the CSM hitters, and led to a Kennedy solo that put Regis within two of the win. A crushing Kennedy kill eventually ended things at 25-21, giving RU the advantage in the match.
 
The Ranger momentum continued into the second, with libero Kristina Schell igniting a run behind three service aces. When an 8-3 lead grew to 16-8, it appeared that the set would be RU's for the taking. An irritating defense held the Orediggers at bay, prompting Mines' second timeout with a 24-16 Regis lead on the board. Unfazed, the home team cruised to the 25-16 win.
 
Refusing to go down without a fight, Mines opened the third set hot. Adjustments in the back row led to a stronger attack at the net, with Oredigger middle Abby Tiesman showing her offensive prowess. Mines kept swinging, trading blows with the Rangers to stay in the game. Fortunately, late CSM errors gave RU a late advantage. Up 23-21 in front of a packed and wild Regis-friendly crowd, the Rangers had their sights set on a sweep. A Caitlyn Burroway bullet down the line earned Regis the set and match point, but CSM wouldn't relent. The struggle for the game resulted in a 26-24 Oredigger victory.
 
Set four featured a similar battle, with the CSM squad making Regis work for every point all the way through. Despite a rocky start, RU found their footing. Back-to-back Nikki Kennedy kills got the Rangers to within one point midway through the frame, forcing a CSM timeout at 19-20. Kennedy would come up big down the stretch, putting another away to put the home team up 23-22 in the closing moments. Green and Caitlyn Martinez kills from opposite ends of the net sealed the night's fate, giving Regis the 25-23 win and the trip to the final match.
 
Match Notes: Basso anchored a strong Regis showing, setting her hitters up for a .329 attack clip and getting in on the scoring herself. The setter from Italy tallied 55 assists on the night and recording six kills and two blocks.
 
"Basso had a laser focus tonight," remarked South Central Region Coach of the Year Joel List, "she flipped a switch and really showed a lot of leadership."
 
Basso's efforts benefitted Green, Kennedy and Burroway – the three accounted for 47 of Regis' 67 kills. Schell and Burroway led from the back row, with the Regis libero recording a match-best 21 digs. Regis finished the night with seven blocks, and bettered the Orediggers' offense by 14 kills.
 
Next Up For The Rangers: Saturday's championship match will feature the home Rangers and the seventh-seeded West Texas A&M Lady Buffs. The squads will square off for the first time this season at 7:30 PM at the Field House. WTAMU enters the match with a 23-13 record, while Regis comes in at 30-3.