DENVER, Colo. - After putting together two-straight sweeps inside the conference, the No. 21 ranked Regis University volleyball team (8-5, 3-1 RMAC) came up big when they needed to against cross-town rival Metropolitan State University of Denver Roadrunners (7-5, 3-1 RMAC). Regis earned a hard-fought five-set victory after coming out slow.
 
How It Happened: The opening set featured too many errors on the Rangers' part as they finished the set hitting .000 on their attacks. On the other side, the Roadrunners were able to perform very well in-system, leading to a .364 hitting percentage. The home team took the set 25-15
 
The second set was a lot more competitive between the two teams who traded points back-and-forth through much of the set. With the score at 16-15, RU scored three points in a row to take a 19-15 lead which forced an MSU Denver timeout. After building a 22-17 lead, the Roadrunners crept back into the set with back-to-back points that led to a timeout from Regis. Coming out of the timeout, junior Nikki Kennedy unloaded on a perfect set from Silvia Basso to stop the run. After a late comeback attempt, the Rangers managed to tie the match at one set apiece with a 25-22 win.
 
One of the most thrilling sets of the evening came in the third set as both teams battled for a chance to take a one-set lead in the match. While both teams committed six attack errors apiece in the third set, ultimately it was MSU Denver who ended up on the right side of a 27-25 win in set three.
 
With their backs against the wall again, RU dug deep in set four, grinding out a 25-17 win to force a decisive fifth set. After both teams struggled on the attack in set four, everyone was waiting to see who would find their footing in the final set. Both teams worked well with their serve and receives in the fifth set, it was Regis who stepped up offensively. The squad worked hard to create scoring opportunities, leading to nine kills on 25 attack attempts with only one attack error. Additionally, Kennedy, juniors Izzy Gosar and Kelsey Green, sophomore Caitlyn Burroway and freshman Rachel Siurek each combined for three blocks, propelling the Rangers to a huge 15-10 fifth set win.
 
Game Notes: Four players posted 13+ kills in the match for RU including Burroway who led all players with 19. The sophomore also tallied a double-double adding 12 digs on the night. Gosar finished with 15 total kills (.270 attack percentage), five blocks, five digs and two assists for a solid all-around performance. Green notched 14 kills in the match, hitting a team-best .314 to go along with three blocks and three digs. Finally, Kennedy registered 13 kills with an attack percentage of .216 and matching a season-high with eight blocks. Sophomore Sophie Griese tallied a career-high 17 digs in the effort which led the team and Basso posted 56 assists and 14 digs. The team finished with a .204 hitting percentage, with their best coming in the second set at .325.
 
Up Next for the Rangers: The No. 21 ranked volleyball team will return to the Regis Fieldhouse for their next three matches. The first will be a Friday, September 21 bout against the New Mexico Highlands University Cowgirls at 7 p.m. followed by a toe-to-toe skirmish with the Colorado State University – Pueblo ThunderWolves on Saturday at 5 p.m. The squad will then welcome the No. 1 ranked University of Nebraska – Kearney Lopers to the Fieldhouse on Tuesday, September 25 for a primetime matchup at 5 p.m.