Rangers Duel Cross-Town Rival Metro State; Rangers Fall in Five Sets

Denver, Colo.: The Ranger volleyball team dueled cross-town rival Metro State tonight in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.  The Roadrunners outlasted Regis in five sets 18-25, 25-19, 25-17, 19-25, 10-15 before a season-high 346 fans.

After a rousing rendition of Jimi Hendrix's National Anthem by Regis junior Brett Stakelin both teams came out and gave the fans a good match to watch.  Both teams hit over .245 for the match and it marked the first time all year that Regis lost a match in which they hit over .200.

Sophomore outside hitter Jessica Howe continued her strong play with a match-high 21 kills, her fourth 20-plus kill match in the last eight.  Sophomore right side hitter Kerry Grady came off the bench to notch a career-high 17 kills with only two errors.  Senior middle hitter Liz Franz was also in double figures with 10 kills.

Sophomore setter Devin Eckhardt recorded a double-double with a team-high 52 assists and also 10 digs.  Freshman libero Cassidee Young led Regis (12-10, 8-6 RMAC) with 11 digs with senior defensive specialists Hannah Tautolo and Kristin Thompson each collected eight digs.

Metro State (14-7, 12-2 RMAC) had 15 less attacks than the Rangers and was led by freshman outside hitter Bri Morley's 21 kills.  Amanda Cook and Emily Greenhalgh were next with 13 kills apiece.

Regis will travel to Nebraska-Kearney on Friday night to take on the 11th ranked Lopers at 7 PM (CT).  

Click here for boxscore.