Rangers Win First Two Sets, but Fall in Five to Adams State in RMAC Volleyball

Alamosa, Colo.: The Regis Ranger volleyball team took the first two sets from Adams State tonight in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action but was unable to hold on as the Grizzlies came back to defeat Regis 3-2.

Junior All-American Jessica Howe had her third consecutive match with 20-or-more kills with an even 20.  Regis (12-9, 10-3 RMAC) won the first two sets by scores of 25-23 and 26-24.  Adams State (10-11, 7-6 RMAC) then came back to win the next three sets, 25-20, 25-23 and 15-9 to stun the Rangers.

In the third set, the Rangers led 14-12 after a kill by junior Devin Eckhardt.  The Grizzlies then went on a 13-6 run to close out the set.  The fourth set looked like a runaway for Adams State but Regis went ahead by one point (15-14) after trailing 8-2.  The set was tied at 23 after a Howe kill, but after an Adams State timeout the home team Grizzlies were able to score the next two to take the fourth set.

Howe was followed on the offense by junior Erin Anderson's 11 kills.  Junior Kerry Grady had eight kills for the second straight night and sophomore Lyz Kann chipped in with seven kills.

Regis hit .176 in the first set and .267 in the second, but in the three losses were only able to hit .044 combined.

Sophomore Cassidee Young again led the Ranger defense with 17 digs.  Junior Sarah Keiter had 12 and freshman Katie Hudencial had 10 digs.  Junior Devin Eckhardt had 49 assists and had two solo blocks and four total to lead the Rangers in both categories.  Anderson also had four blocks, one of them solo.

The Rangers do not have much down time as they travel to Metro State on Tuesday evening for a huge matchup.

Click here for boxscore.