GOLDEN, Colo. – The Regis University Volleyball team began their 2024 season at the Colorado School of Mines Oredigger Classic on Friday, splitting matches with Michigan Tech University and Concord University (W.V.).

The Rangers lost to the Huskies 0-3 (21-25, 24-26, 23-25), before besting the Mountain Lions, 30- (25-18, 25-14, 25-13). After day one of the tournament, Regis sits at 1-1, MTU is 2-0, and Concord is 0-2.

How it happened – Match 1

Halle Theis recorded the first kill of the season, and led the offense as RU went up 10-7. Michigan Tech battled back for the 12-11 lead, and after Hannah Kepler tied the score at 15-15, the Huskies took the lead and didn't look back en route to the 25-21 win.

Bryn McNair and Lindsey Cure recorded kills in a very close start to the second set, while Braziah Dixon recorded a service ace to go up 14-10. Keppler had back-to-back kills to extend the lead to 16-10, and an Amelia Davis-Their block made it 20-16. However, the Huskies rallied late and took the second, 26-24.

Davis and Kepler started the third with a block, and the Rangers took a 12-11 lead on another Dixon ace. The teams alternated nine points, and Reagan Hickey put RU in the lead, 19-16. But Michigan Tech would rattle off four straight points, and after a Hickey ace, win 25-23.

"First match we needed to reduce some serving errors because all other parts of the match were close," said Head Coach Joel List. "And that was the difference, especially when the point difference was only 8 over the three sets."

Game Notes

·        Kepler led the Rangers with 11 kills, and Davis also reached double digits with 10.

·        Lindsey and Theis both had seven kills, hitting .400 and .375, respectively.

·        Reagan dished 32 assists, and Bre Skala had a game-high 11 digs.

·        Three different Rangers had three blocks.

·        RU had 42 kills to 39 from Michigan Tech.

How it happened – Match 2

 Kepler had three early kills to start the first set, followed by an ace and Concord error for the 6-3 lead. The Rangers built a comfortable lead behind kills from Davis and Kepler, as well as more Mountain Lion errors. Kepler and Thies ended the first set, 25-18.

While CU jumped out to an early lead in the second, Dixon led the Rangers comeback with a block, ace and kill. Regis would then score the final nine points of the set, starting with a Thies-Lindsey Cure block, and including three straight Kepler kills.

McNair had a kill, and Davis recorded two blocks as RU built an early lead in the third, and Kepler had three kills as RU went up 15-10. McNair and Davis combined for two blopcks, each sparking their own 4-0 runs, and Davis ended the match, 25-13 with an ace.

"The team did a good job of moving on from the loss as we entered the concord match," continued List. "We played very aggressive and made the changes we needed from the service line. Tomorrow we will be challenged again with our two matches, we are looking forward to the competition."

Game Notes

·        The Rangers hit .389 as a team with 44 kills.

·        Kepler led all players with 13 kills, hitting 500, while Theis added nine on .529 hitting.

·        Reagan dished 36 assists

·        Skala led the way with 20 digs

·        Davis posted more block (6), than the entire Concord team (4).

Up Next

The Rangers return to action on Saturday, taking on #5 Concordia University – St. Paul and Missouri Western State University.