The Metro State volleyball team dropped a tough five-game match to Colorado School of Mines, Friday afternoon in the opening round of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Tournament in Kearney, Neb. The Orediggers prevailed, 19-25, 25-21, 19-25, 25-17, 15-13. They advance to the semifinals to face Mesa State.

Metro played well in the first set, capitalizing on 15 Mines errors to cruise to the victory. MSCD began to make errors of their own in the second set and Mines seemed to find its confidence. The teams traded the third and fourth sets.

Mines started the fifth set with a huge 10-3 lead, before the 'Runners started to chip away. Sophomore defensive specialist Sarah Vallejos served six straight points to tie the score at 10-10. The teams traded points until the 'Runners led 13-12. Then two consecutive hitting errors from Metro State and a kill from Mines' Elizabeth Serra-Hsu gave the match to Mines.

Bri Morley had 16 kills for Metro State, followed by Lisa Jones with 14. Freshman Julie Causseaux added nine kills, eight blocks and a .500 hitting percentage.

The loss coupled with Nebraska-Kearney's setback to Adams State, makes Metro's ninth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament unlikely. The 'Runners will have to wait and see when the announcement is made Sunday evening.

RMAC Tournament Results-Nov. 14, 2008

No. 6 Colorado School of Mines def. No. 3 Metro State, 19-25, 25-21, 19-25, 25-17, 15-13

 

No. 7 Mesa State def. No. 2 Western New Mexico, 25-16, 25-19, 25-12

 

No. 5 Regis def. No. 4 Fort Lewis, 25-12, 25-19, 26-24

 

No. 8 Adams State def. No. 1 Nebraska-Kearney, 22-25, 25-19, 25-22, 19-25, 15-13