DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University Volleyball team claimed a win in their first home conference match of the season Thursday night, besting University of Colorado Colorado Springs 3-2 (24-26, 27-25, 22-25, 25-17, 15-13).

The Rangers improve to 4-7 (2-1 RMAC) on the year, while the Mountain Lions fall to 6-5 (1-2 RMAC).

HOW IT HAPPENED

Halle Theis scored the first two points of the match for the Rangers with a kill and a service ace. An Amelia Davis kill and errors from the Mountain Lions helped RU take a 10-5 lead early, and a quick run highlighted by a Bre Skala ace and Braiziah Dixon kill extended that lead to 14-6. However, after a Dixon-Lindsey Cure block, UCCS put together a run of their own to tire the set at 20-20. Dixon and Theis each had late kills, but Regis lost the first, 24-26.

"I kept telling the team doing into today that it would be a dogfight," said Head Coach Joel List, "and in that first set, we didn't fight hard enough."

The teams traded points to start the second set, with Brynn McNair leading the Rangers offense. After UCCS went on a 8-1 run for the 13-8 lead, Reagan Hickey's kill sparked a Regis run that also went 8-1. Late in the set, Brooke Sanford aced a serve, Davis put down a pair of kills, and RU ended it, 27-25, with a Dixon-Cure block.

"We definitely battled better in the second, "continued List "we adjusted well, being blocked six times in the first set and only once in the second."

Skala recorded another ace early in the third, followed by a Dixon and Thies kill. A pair of UCCS errors helped Regis take the 12-10 lead, but the Mountain Lions took back the advantage, 16-14. Davis smashed three big kills for the 22-21 lead, but four straight UCCS points gave them the win.

Cure and McNair fueled the offense early in the fourth, but RU found themselves behind, 12-10. Then, Skala would ace back-to-back serves, and McNair and Dixon blocked three kills as the Rangers stormed back for the 21-13 lead. Dixon also added three late kills for the 25-17 win.

"Our middles played a huge part in how we adjusted and we able to take control of the game again," added List. "And the way Reagan spread out the offense was crucial, getting everyone involved."

The Mountain Lions took the lead to start the deciding set, 5-2, but errors kept the Rangers close until Davis came alive with two kills and a Theis-assisted block amidst a 5-0 run. The teams traded points to close out the set, as Davis added another Cure-assisted block, and kill, and McNair ended the match, 15-13.

GAME NOTES

·         Four Rangers reached double digit kills, including Dixon (17), Theis (16), Davis (15), and McNair (12)

·         Dixon hit .484 on the night, and Davis posted a mark of .355

·         Thies had a double-double with 12 digs

·         Skala aced four serves to go with a match-high 27 digs

·         Hickey dished 53 assists

·         Dixon also had nine blocks

UP NEXT

The Rangers return to action on Saturday, Sept. 28 as they host New Mexico Highlands University.