The Metro State Volleyball team lost a pair of matches to Top 25 opponents during the first day of the Colorado Premier Challenger, Friday at the Auraria Events Center.
The 'Runners opened the day against No. 15 Augustana College (S.D.), dropping a dramatic five-game match, 27-29, 25-18. 25-15, 23-25, 15-11. The teams traded points throughout the first set, with the 'Runners reaching set point first at 24-22. A service error from freshman Darcy Schwartzman and a kill from Augustana tied the game at 24-24. The teams would trade points until 27-27, when a kill from freshman Emily Greenhalgh and a hitting error from the Vikings would give Metro State the first game, 29-27. Augustana would run away with the next two sets. The fourth set was a another barnburner, as the teams traded points and leads until 23-23. A block by freshman Julie Cassueaux and Danielle St. Pierre gave the Roadrunners their first set point. Augustana followed with a hitting error wide to force the match to a fifth game. MSCD came out quick in the fifth game, taking an early 6-3 lead. But the experienced Vikings would go on an 8-1 run to take a commanding 11-7 lead. From there the teams would trade points until a kill from Cayla Schroeder ended the match for Augustana.
Cook had a career-high 18 kills and 15 digs for Metro State, followed by freshmen Bri Morley with 15 kills and Emily Greenhalgh with 10 kills and four blocks.
In the final match of the day, MSCD fell to No. 7 Grand Valley State, 25-16, 25-21, 26-28, 25-15. The Lakers looked like the No. 7 team in the country in the first set, hitting a stellar .412 hitting percentage. Neither team was very effective in the second set, but GVSU capaitalized on three Metro State hitting errors late in the set to take the victory. The 'Runners built a 16-12 lead in the third set behind strong hitting from outside hitter Cook and Morley, but again GVSU would battle back and tie the score at 22-22. The teams traded points until 26-26 when a MSCD block and a kill by Greenhalgh gave the 'Runners the set. Unfortunately, they could not maintain the momentum as the Lakers used a 7-2 run midway through the fourth set to put the contest away.
Sophomore Lisa Jones had a solid match with a season-high 10 kills on a .500 hitting percentage.
The 'Runners continue the Colorado Premier Challenge, Saturday at 9:30 a.m. against Hawaii-Hilo at the Auraria Events Center. The two teams met last week in Hilo with the Vulcans prevailing in five sets.
