Ranger Volleyball Beat UC-Colorado Springs in Four Sets

Colorado Springs, Colo.: The Lion's Den on the campus of UC-Colorado Springs is one of the toughest places to play in the RMAC if not the country, but the Ranger volleyball team overcame 36 hitting errors to take the match in three sets.  Neither team hit well in the match with UCCS hitting .108 compared to .100 for the Rangers.

The Rangers took the first set by a score of 25-21 on the strong right arm of senior middle hitter Liz Franz.  Franz led the Regis in the first set with four kills in just five attempts.  Freshman libero Cassidee Young led the Rangers defensively with nine digs in the first set.

The second set was a nail-biter with the Rangers winning by a score of 26-24.  Sophomores Jessica Howe and Kerry Grady led the way with four kills each.  Regis hit just .024 with UCCS hitting at a .059 clip.

The Mountain Lions (6-6, 1-2 RMAC) took the third set limiting the Rangers to a .000 hitting percentage.  The Rangers led 20-18 but were outscored 7-3 forcing a fourth set.  With the score tied at 23, Regis committed two errors, a service error and a hitting error, to give the set to UCCS 25-23.

The Rangers responded well in the four set hitting a match-high .256 tallying 14 kills with just four errors winning the set 25-19.  Sophomore Melissa Piazza led the team in set four with five kills also getting help by two service aces.

The Rangers were once again balanced in the offensive game with three getting 10-plus kills.  Grady had 12, Franz 11 and Howe 10 kills to pace Regis (6-5, 2-1 RMAC).  Sophomore setter Devin Eckhardt again led Regis with 42 assists, while Young once again paced the Rangers with 22 digs.  Senior defensive specialist Kristin Thompson and sophomore outside hitter Sarah Keiter each had double figures in digs with 15 and 11 respectively.  Howe led the team with six blocks, four solo.  Regis was aided by eight service aces, a season high.

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