Azusa, Calif- The Regis University Women's Volleyball Team dropped a pair of matches in the second day of the APU/CUI Tournament on Friday. RU is now 0-3 on the year.
 
The Rangers lost 1-3 (25-23, 20-25, 12-25, 19-25) to Azusa Pacific in the early game, then fell against Texas Women's University 1-3 (18-25, 25-22, 17-25, 20-25)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED - MATCH 1
 
The Rangers came out strong, opening the match with four straight points with kills from Jacie Kaniho and an ace from Isabella Smith. After both teams traded points, the Cougars would take their first lead of the set, 13-12. Bailey Nichols and Braiziah Dixon would get back-to-back blocks, starting the momentum for the Rangers, going on a 16-13 run. After long rallies, Regis would secure the set 25-23.
 
Dixon and Smith recorded a kill in a very close start to the second set, while Sabrina Landman added back-to-back blocks to go up 12-8. Dixon and Smith continued trading kills however the Cougars rallied late and took the second set, 25-20.
 
Kaniho would put the Rangers on the board, followed by a kill from Nichols. Azusa Pacific gained momentum, building a 16-9 lead over RU. Smith would add a kill, but it wasn't enough to change the momentum the Cougars took set three, 25-12.
 
Landman and Dixon started the match with a kill, followed by two service aces from Krissy Brei, tying the game 7-7. The teams alternated nine points, and Smith put them in the lead, 16-15. But Azusa Pacific would rattle off three straight points, taking the final set 25-19.
 
GAME NOTES
 
Smith led RU with 12 kills, followed by Dixon with nine.
 
Nichols dished out 29 assists.
 
Landman had three blocks.
 
Brei totaled 16 digs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED - MATCH 2
 
Regis would take the early lead with kills from Jacie Kaniho and Braiziah Dixon, until the Pioneers found the momentum, going on a seven-point run, making it 9-5. Isabella Smith and Bailey Nichols would tie the game for RU, but TMU regained control with another run, taking set one, 25-18.
 
The Rangers built an early 11-6 lead, capitalizing on the Pioneers' errors. Sabrina Landman and Smith added two more kills for Regis, but TMU rallied back, going ahead 17-14. Dixon would record back-to-back blocks, sparking RU's late push to secure the second set, 25-22.
 
The Pioneers opened the set strongly, taking a 9-3 advantage. RU fought back with kills from Brooke Sandford and Sabrina Landman, cutting the deficit to 12-10. TMU would pull ahead, extending the lead 16-12. Smith delivered back-to-back kills for the Rangers, but it wasn't enough as the Pioneers closed out the set, 25-17.
 
Regis set the tone early, jumping out to an 8-3 lead behind powerful swings from Alayna Pruitt and Landman. TMU would come back, tying the match at 15-15. Regis picked up an ace from Smith, but it wasn't enough as the Pioneers pulled away to take the set, 25-20.
 
GAME NOTES
 
Smith totaled eight kills for RU.
 
Brei led with 14 digs, followed by Nichols with 13.
 
TMU totaled 46 kills while RU had 32.  
 
UP NEXT
 
The Rangers finish off their weekend against California State University- Dominguez Hills at 3:00 pm (MT).
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