Ranger Volleyball Jumps Out to 2-0 Lead but Fall 3-2 to 21st Ranked Metro State

Denver, Colo.: The Regis Ranger volleyball team was trying to break a 12-match losing streak at Metro State.  After the first two sets it looked like that was going to happen, however the Roadrunners came back to win the final three sets to stun the Rangers 3-2.

Regis (12-10, 10-4 RMAC) took the first set 25-21.  The Rangers defense proved to be the difference as they forced Metro State (17-6, 10-4 RMAC) into nine attack errors.  The Rangers had just nine kills compared to 14 for Metro State and out hit the Roardrunners .172 to .147.

The Ranger offense took off in the third set behind five kills out of five attempts (1.000 attack percentage) from sophomore Lyz Kann.  Regis hit .250 in set number two while Metro State had an attack percentage of .133.  Regis also had five service aces to outpace the Roadrunners 25-17 to lead 2-0.

The 21st ranked Roadrunners came back with a vengance in set three winning 25-19.  Both teams had nine kills, however the difference in the set was the fact that Regis had 10 attack errors for a -.028 attack percentage.

The powerful Metro State offense took over in the fourth set behind super-sophomore Bri Morley's seven kills.  Metro State hit .295 in the set and had just two errors.  Regis played well with 12 kills and a .158 attack percentage but it wasn't enough as Metro State forced a fifth and deciding set 25-16.

The fifth set was a close one at 9-8 before Metro State finished the game with six straight points to defeat the Rangers 15-8.  Regis hurt themselves with six attack errors to just two for Metro State.

Two Rangers were in double figure in kills led by junior All-American Jessica Howe's 17.  Kann was next with 11 kills, while junior Sarah Keiter had eight kills and 14 digs. 

Sophomore Cassidee Young had her third 20-plus dig match in the last four with 22 digs.  Senior Maggie Workman had 13 digs, while junior Devin Eckhardt and freshman Katie Hudencial chipped in with eight digs apiece.

Hudencial set a career-high with five service aces and junior Erin Anderson had a match-high five blocks.  Eckhardt tied for match high with 44 assists.

Regis and Metro State are tied for second in the RMAC East Division with their 10-4 conference records.  Each team needs just one more victory over the last five matches to secure a spot in the 2009 RMAC Postseason Tournament.

Regis will now travel to Kearney, Neb. to take on #5 ranked Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.

Click here for boxscore.