GOLDEN, Colo. – For the first time since 2012, the No. 21 Regis University volleyball team traveled 12 miles west and defeated the No. 20 Colorado School of Mines Orediggers in Lockridge Arena. In a non-conference, top 25 showdown the Rangers earned their fourth win over a ranked opponent this season defeating the Orediggers 3-1.
 
How It Happened: Both teams went back-and-forth exchanging points from the beginning as the score would tie six times until the Orediggers began to string together more points at a time to take a 16-13 lead. The Rangers fought from down 19-16 to set point at 24-23 as a service ace from Drew Rhamy sealed the first set win.
 
A slow start at the beginning of the second set for RU gave way to a dominating set for Colorado Mines. The home team evened the overall match score at 1-1 with the 25-14 win.
 
The Rangers got back on track in the third as the score would tie 15 times throughout the set. Back-to-back blocks from Nikki Kennedy and Caitlyn Martinez brought the score to set point at 24-21. Martinez gave Regis back a 2-1 match lead with the final kill of the third set.
 
Regis fell behind early 6-3 but six-straight points forced an Oredigger timeout as they held a 9-6 lead. Another run from RU put seven-straight points on the board to give them a 21-13 lead. Colorado Mines attempted to make a comeback with four-straight points of their own but the Rangers shut it down to take the fourth set and match 25-19.
 
Match Notes: The Rangers were far more efficient on the offensive side producing a .314 attack percentage to Mines' .273 but putting down just 51 kills to CSM's 61. RU won the battle at the net 8-4 led by Kennedy and Kristen Hornung with four block assists a piece. Caitlyn Burroway put together her best offensive night thus far with a career-high 15 kills and a .324 attack percentage. Hornung added 13 kills and a career-high .522 attack percentage.
 
Next Up For The Rangers: RU will host MSU Denver and UC-Colorado Springs in the opening weekend of conference play. Regis is slated to host MSU Denver on Friday, September 15 at 7 p.m. and UCCS Saturday, September 16 at 5 p.m.