It took five sets, but MSU Denver pulled off the stunning upset of No. 9 Regis.
Denver - The Metropolitan State University of Denver volleyball team (13-6, 10-1 RMAC) defeated No. 9 Regis (18-3, 10-1 RMAC) in a five set match on Tuesday, October 17.
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The Roadrunners finished the night with a huge offensive attack with Junior Santaisha Sturges posting a double-double with 19 kills and 25 digs. Juniors Stephanie Laraway and Taylor Duryea (Logan, Utah/Sky View High School) both finished the night with 17 kills. Senior setter Alyssa Svalberg posted 55 assists in the match.
The first game set the tone for much of the match with it being a great battle between the two sides. Regis took an early 2-0 lead, but the Roadrunners quickly battled back with a kill from senior Vasatia Fiatoa and two Regis attack errors.
It appeared as though the Rangers were going to break away taking a 12-7 lead over the Roadrunners, however, MSU Denver came back with a great fight. A kill from junior Taylor Duryea and a service ace from freshman Kayla White would bring the Roadrunners within one at 15-14.
Shortly following, a huge kill from junior Stephanie Laraway would give her team its first lead since early in the set at 17-16.
The Rangers were able to steal the lead back from the Roadrunners, but the clash continued and would continue until the last point of the set. Regis took a 24-23 lead over the Roadrunners off a huge block, but sophomore Alyssa Kelling fired back earning a kill to the set up yet again.
Duryea would come up big for the Roadrunners giving her team two chances for set point.
The Rangers earned match point twice more finishing the second to take the set 30-28.
The second game was a continued battle between the two teams. The Rangers took an early lead to begin, but a service ace from freshman Lyric Herbert would give the Roadrunners a 5-4 lead. MSU Denver sustained a lead through much of the set until the Rangers took back the lead late in the set at 19-18.
Regis would never lose its lead the rest of the set despite the Roadrunners best efforts, winning 25-23.
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MSU Denver looked for revenge in the third set to get up on the board. The Roadrunners held an edge over the Rangers for much of the set. The Rangers inched their way back tying the game several times but didn't take a lead till late in the set at 22-21.
A kill from Duryea and a service ace from senior Jackie Lopez gained the Roadrunners lead back at 24-23. Following a Rangers kill White would give the Roadrunners another chance at a set point. Laraway followed up with a huge set point allowing MSU Denver to take the set 26-24, sending the match to a fourth set.
The momentum carried into the fourth set for MSU Denver having the upper hand on the Rangers. Taking a convincing 25-17 win to send the match into a fifth set.
White started the set off with a huge kill for the Roadrunners to set the tone. That would send the team on a 4-1 run to take an early 5-1 lead. MSU Denver was able to sustain the lead until the Rangers tied the score up at 11.
The set continued to be an insane battle, with the Rangers earning match point at 14-13 but junior Santaisha Sturges came up big with a kill to keep the Roadrunners in it followed by a kill to give the Roadrunners match point twice in a row.
A service ace from Sturges would end the match taking the 18-16 win in the fifth set for a huge Roadrunners upset over the Rangers.
