LAS VEGAS, N.M. – On the first night of their weekend road trip, the Regis University volleyball team (13-4, 8-1 RMAC) needed only three sets to extend their winning streak to eight in a row. On Friday night, the ladies beat the New Mexico Highlands University Cowgirls (7-13, 3-7 RMAC) 25-20, 25-20 and 25-19.
 
How It Happened: In the early going, both teams struggled to get their offense going as the hitting percentages for each team dipped below .100 percent. Despite the low percentages, Regis still outperformed the Cowgirls in a few categories. The Rangers aced their serve three times in the opening set, and they hit .053 compared to .029 for the home team. After taking the first set comfortably, 25-20, RU looked to take a two-set lead in set two.
 
The offense started to roll for Regis in the second set as they collected 13 kills in 35 attack attempts with an improved .143 hitting percentage. The Rangers started out the set scoring nine out of the first 10 points, opening with a 9-1 lead. NMHU cut the lead down to two, 13-11, but RU responded with another big run to extend their lead back up to seven, 18-11, featuring back-to-back service aces from junior Haley Kennedy, two kills from graduate student Caitlyn Burroway, and a kill from junior Mara LeGrand. Regis cruised to another 25-20 win in set two.
 
Looking to close out the match in the third set, RU once again jumped out to a big 8-1 lead to start the set. That lead grew to eight points, 13-5, after Burroway connected on an out of system pass from senior Rachel Siurek. That was the largest lead of the set for Regis. Needing only three points to take the match, LeGrand found Burroway for yet another kill, setting up back-to-back blocks from Siurek and junior Nadine Burbrink to close out the set 25-19.
 
Game Notes: For the fifth-straight match, Burroway reached double-digit kills (16), and to go a step further, she had had 15 or more kills in four out of her last five matches. The .500 hitting percentage that Burroway tallied in this match was a season high. Sophomore Halle Theis had six kills in the match, LeGrand tallied five, Siurek recorded four and both Burbrink and sophomore Maddy Mallory had three to wrap up the offense. Burbrink denied several attempts at the net with six block assists and two solo blocks for eight total blocks. LeGrand finished with 26 assists, 14 digs and a season-high five kills. Siurek had five blocks in the effort, matching a season best. After hitting .212 in the final set, the Rangers posted a combined .132 hitting percentage through three sets this evening.
 
Up Next for the Rangers: The Regis University volleyball team will now make their way to Alamosa, Colorado to take on the Grizzlies of Adams State University tomorrow evening at 6 p.m.