The Metro State volleyball team (3-5, 1-0 RMAC) opened Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play with a convincing 25-19, 25-18, 25-13 victory over Colorado School of Mines (5-5, 0-1 RMAC), Friday evening at the Auraria Events Center.

"This was a good way to start conference play," Head Coach Debbie Hendricks said. "We are still a young team and this was a good all around team effort tonight. We just go out every night trying to get a little bit better."

The Orediggers used four early Metro State errors to race to a 6-1 lead in the first set. The 'Runners settled down and battled back to tie the score at 13-13 before Mines took its first timeout. Metro used an 11-2 run to build a 21-15 lead and closed the set on a service ace from sophomore Lisa Jones.

Mines started the second set with two services aces to seize the early 4-2 lead. The 'Runners would respond immediately with Jones serving seven consecutive points to give them a 9-4 lead. The 'Runners utilized a stellar .583 hitting percentage in the game to cruise to the victory.

The third set was a repeat of the previous two as the Orediggers again got off to a fast start, holding a 4-1 advantage. However, the errors started to pile up for Mines as the 'Runners went on a 17-4 run to put the match away.

Metro State had one of its best offensive matches of the year, hitting .432 as a team. Junior Amanda Cook (nine kills, .421 hitting percentage) and freshman Bri Morley (nine kills, .500 hitting percentage) led the offense. Middle blockers Julie Causseaux (six kills) and Jones (eight kills) also played well for the 'Runners.

MSCD returns to action tomorrow night when they host Chadron State at 7 p.m.