PUEBLO, Colo. – The Regis University Volleyball team started RMAC Conference Play on Friday night with a match on the road at Colorado State University-Pueblo. The Rangers fell, 0-3 (15-25, 25-27, 13-25), moving to 0-9 (0-1 RMAC) on the year, while the Thunderwolves improve to 5-4 (1-0 RMAC).

HOW IT HAPPENED

CSUP would score the first four points of the match, but Sabrina Landman's kill and Braiziah Dixon's ace quickly evened the score at 5-5. However, the Thunderwolves put together another strong run that put them in the lead, 15-6. Pueblo errors aided the Rangers, and Dixon put down a pair of late kills. With CSUP on match points, Bailey Nichols set up a Brooke Sanford kill, then scored one of her own from Krissy Brei, but RU lost the opener, 25-15.

Nichols got the Rangers on the board first to start the second set, and set up Landman and Sanford kills. The Thunderwolves began to pull away, 10-5, but Aaliyah Rodrakkwan found Nichols to end the run, and Dixon aced another serve. The teams traded points, the Rangers getting offensive production from Alayna Pruitt and Jacie Kaniho before Pueblo went up, 20-15. That's when Dixon's kill sparked a run that saw two Nichols aces, a Dixon-Kaniho block, and a Dixon-Landman block to take a 22-20 advantage. However, with the Rangers on match point, the Thunderwolves ran three straight to win 27-25.

Landman started the third with two early kills, but despite Kendal Allaire and Landman kills, Pueblo led, 11-7. Dixon and Kaniho put down a block, and Nichols aced a serve to try to slow CSUP, but they would score the next 10 points for the commanding 21-9 lead. Sanford and Landman had a pair of late kills, but it came too late, and Regis lost, 25-13.

GAME NOTES

·         Nichols had a strong all-around match with 16 assists, nine digs, four kills, and three aces

·         Kaniho recorded 12 digs with three kills and two blocks

·         Landman led the team with seven kills

·         Dixon posted three blocks

·         Lily Zwart had a match-high 12 kills

UP NEXT

The Rangers travel to Colorado Christian University on Saturday for a match at 3 pm.