Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University volleyball team played a pair of matches on Saturday, competing in the Silver Bracket of the Colorado Premier Challenge.

The Premier Challenge is the most prestigious NCAA Division II tournament in the country, featuring 12 of the top teams in the nation.

The Rangers would fall to Lewis University (Ill.) in the early match, 1-3 (22-25, 25-13, 24-26, 19-25), then drop a three-setter (20-25, 22-25, 17-25) to Wayne State College (Neb.). RU falls to 2-6 on the season.

REGIS VS. LEWIS

The Flyers would capitalize on Ranger errors early in the first, jumping out to a 9-3 lead, before a pair of their own errors and an Amelia Davis kill. Bre Skala would then ace a serve to help fuel a run to tie the match, highlighted by kills and an assisted block by Halle Theis and Braiziah Dixon. Dixon then would out RU ahead, 15-13, and the teams would alternate points until LU was able to put together the final run, winning the first, 25-22.

Regis would dominate the second set, as Lindsey Cure had two kills amidst a 6-0 Ranger run, and Brynn McNair would spark another with a kill and Dixon-assisted block to lead 16-8. Theis and Cure kept the momentum going with kills of their own, and RU cruised to the win, 25-13.

After falling behind to start the third, Dixon recorded two aces, and Theis added a kill as RU ran eight straight points for the 12-7 lead. While Davis posted a solo block, Skala had an ace, and McNair supplied a pair of kills, the Flyers began to put together runs of their own, tying the match at 23-23, before pulling away for the 26-24 win.

Davis and MCNair combined for a block following a Davis kill early in the fourth, and Thies' kill tied the set at 11-11. Davis added another solo block to keep the Rangers close, but Lewis was able to use the Rangers errors to extend their lead. Kills from Dixon and McNair came too late, and LU secured the win by taking the fourth, 25-19.

GAME NOTES

·         Cure led the Rangers with 13 kills, while Dixon (12) and Theis (10) each reached double figures as well

·         Dixon hit .600 with no errors

·         Davis led all players with six blocks, three being solo

·         Reagan Hickey dished 42 assists, a game-high

·         Three Rangers reached double-digit digs; Skala (18), Hickey (15), and Aaliyah Rodrakkwan (12)

REGIS VS WAYNE STATE

McNair would have the first three kill of the match for Regis, while Thies had two block, one assisted by Dixon, the other by Davis. However, even after a Cure kill and Isabella Smith ace, Regis still trailed 11-12. Dixon and Theis were able to pace the offense, but not close the deficit as the Wildcats held on to win, 25-20.

Early errors from RU helped Wayne State build an 11-5 lead in the second, but kills from Davis and Cure started to correct the Rangers offense. Dixon and Theis were able to tie the match at 15-15, but WSC was again able to persevere through late Davis and McNair kills, winning 25-22.

The Wildcats scored the first six points of the third set, and after a kill by Dixon and one from Theis, extended that lead to 12-3. Davis and Theis put down a combo block, and while the Rangers still used to a spread out offense of Davis, McNair, Dixon and Theis, the surge came too late, losing 17-25.

GAME NOTES

·         Dixon led the Rangers with 11 kills, hitting .529

·         Davis had 10 kills and five blocks

·         Hickey had 38 assists, matching the entire WSC team

·         Skala led all players with 12 digs

UP NEXT

Regis looks ahead to the start of RMAC conference play on Friday, Sept. 20 as they travel to South Dakota Mines.