DENVER, Colo. – The Regis University Women's Volleyball team played their 2025 home opener matches on Friday evening as a part of the 2025 Colorado Volleyball Premier Challenge. The fell in straight sets to Ferris State University (Mich.), ranked #7 in the most recent AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll, 0-3 (21-25, 22-25, 18-25) in the early match, and fell, 0-3 (15-25, 18-25, 19-25) to (Receiving Votes) University of West Florida in the nightcap. The Rangers fall to 0-6, while the Bulldogs improve to 4-2, and the Argonauts move to 5-1.

GAME ONE

The Rangers spread out the offense early, with five different players recording the team's first five kills. Braiziah Dixon then sparked a quick 3-0 run that gave RU a 10-9 lead. Alayna Pruitt put down a kill, and Brooke Sanford earned a solo block, but the Bulldogs would respond with a run of their own to take back the advantage. Another Sanford solo block, along with Dixon and Isabella Smith kills, brought the game within one late, but Ferris State pulled away for the 25-21 win.

RU scored the first three points of the second, with two Smith kills and a Dixon-Sabrina Landman block. However, FSU managed to take back control, leading 9-6 after a Ranger error. Aaliyah Rodrakkwan aced a serve , and Landman posted back-to-back kills as Regis clawed back for a 16-14 lead. Another Rodrakkwan ace helped keep the Rangers ahead, 19-18. But again, the Bulldogs took the momentum late, winning 25-22.

Dixon's early kill and Landman-assisted block, along with Pruitt and Sanford kills helped the Rangers to a 6-2 lead to kick off the third. Smith put down a kill, and Dixon housed a block to keep RU ahead, 11-5, but a 6-1 Ferris State run quickly closed the lead. The Rangers were able to capitalize on Bulldog errors, and a late Landman kill, but Ferris never relented control of the match, closing out Regis, 25-18.

GAME NOTES

·        Landman led the Rangers with nine kills. Smith added nine, and Pruitt six

·        Bailey Nichols dished 26 assists, and posted nine digs

·        Krissy Brei led Regis with 11 digs

·        Dixon earned two solo blocks, and three assisted. Landman assisted four blocks

·        Emily May led all players with 11 kills for Ferris State

GAME TWO

In the late game, West Florida would jump out to an early lead, but a Landman ace and kill fueled a run that put Regis ahead, 6-5. The Argonauts quickly responded, claiming the momentum back with a 6-1 scoring run. Pruitt, Nichols, and Smith all produced kills that helped to break up the run, but RU was not able to string together much offense, as after Sanford's late kill, UWF win, 25-15.

West Florida sprinted out of the gate in the second, building a 9-1 lead. Dixon and Smith led the offense with two kills, and Pruitt aced a save, as RU slowly cut away at the deficit. Smith's back-to-back aces got the Rangers going, along with Dixon and Landman kills that brought the 11-point deficit down to four. But the momentum fizzled late, and UWF took the second, 25-18.

Nichols started the third set with an ace, and defensively, Sanford, Pruitt, and Dixon supplied blocks to go up 6-4 early. The game remained within a few points either way, Regis led by Dixon's blocks and kills from Dixon and Nichols. But once again, the Argonauts took the momentum late, closing out the Rangers,25-19 , despite a late Pruitt kill.

GAME NOTES

·        Pruitt and Smith each had five kills, while Sanford, Landman, Nichols, and Dixon all had four

·        Pruitt hit .444 in the match

·        Nichols posted 20 assists

·        Smith had five digs and two aces

·        Dixon solo-ed two blocks

UP NEXT

The Rangers continue play in the Premier Challenge on Saturday, hosting the Bronze Bracket.