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DENVER, Colo. - The No. 16 Metro State volleyball team was swept on the road at Regis on Tuesday evening, 25-20, 25-21, 25-22 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action.  The loss dropped Metro State to 10-3 overall and 3-2 in the RMAC, while Regis improved to 7-6 overall and 5-0 in the RMAC.

The Roadrunner offense hit just .111 (38-25-117) and its 25 attack errors were the most in a three-set match since Nov. 16, 2007, against UC-Colorado Springs.  Julie Causseaux (Dumas, Texas/Dumas H.S.) was a bright spot offensively as she hit .571 with nine kills, as was setter Gabe Curtis (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley H.S.), who hit .500 with three kills in six attempts.  Bri Morley (Parker, Colo./Cherokee Trail H.S.) led the team with 10 kills, but hit .154 (10-6-26).

Curtis still managed 31 assists, despite the low hitting percentage by Metro State, and had nine digs.  Amy Watanabe (Littleton, Colo./Heritage H.S.) led the defense with 16 digs, while Amanda Cook (Bellevue, Neb./Bellevue East H.S.) also reached double figures with 11 digs.

Regis was led by Sarah Keiter's 11 kills, while Jessica Howe added 10.  Setter Devin Eckhart led the team with 31 assists and 13 digs.  The Rangers hit .222 (39-15-108).

Metro State trailed throughout the first set and hit .132 (14-9-38), its highest hitting percentage in any of the three sets on Tuesday.  Five of the Metro State's six service errors came in the first set, while Regis' four team blocks led to nearly half of Metro State's nine attack errors during the set.

The Roadrunners got off to a much better start in the second set, leading 6-3 after a kill by Causseaux.  But four consecutive Metro State errors, including three attack errors gave the Rangers a 7-6 lead.  Metro State led 17-15, but consecutive Regis kills, followed by a setting error and an attack error gave Regis a two-point advantage at 19-17.  Mapes answered with a kill, and an attack error on the Rangers tied the scored at 19-19.  After a kill by Cook off a Regis blocking error tied the set again at 20-20, Regis ran off four straight points to take control and eventually win 25-21.

Again, Metro State started the third set strong, leading 4-1 after consecutive kills by Mapes.  Metro State maintained a three-point lead at 8-5 after a kills by Causseaux and Cook, but the Rangers answered with five of the next six points to lead 10-9.  The Rangers continued to roll and led 18-15 when Morley briefly took over.  After her kill cut the lead to 18-16, she served four consecutive points for the Roadrunners, including back-to-back aces that broke an 18-18 tie and put Metro State ahead 20-18.

The Roadrunners still by two points at 22-20, but Regis scored the final five points of the third set.  The final point was a marathon, as Metro State had seven chances off attacks, but the Rangers successfully passed all seven attacks and Keiter finally put the match away with a kill.

Metro State will look to bounce back with its 2009 homecoming match on Saturday against No. 8 Nebraska-Kearney at 3 p.m. at the Auraria Event Center.  The Lopers are tied with Regis for first place in the RMAC East Division.  The Roadrunners have not defeated UNK since 2006.