Box Score

MONMOUTH, Ore. - No. 10 Metro State was swept 25-18, 25-17, 25-18 by Western Washington in the first match of the GNAC Conference Challenge on Friday in Monmouth, Ore.  It was the season opener for both teams.

The Vikings return all six starters and their libero from last season, when they finished 17-10 and 10-6 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and their experience showed on Friday morning.  Senior Jordyn Bailey led all players with 13 kills, hitting .520 (13-0-25).  Marlayna Geary, the West Region Freshman of the Year last season, added 11 kills in the winning effort.

The Roadrunners were limited to just a .125 hitting percentage and were blocked seven times.  Metro State handed UWW 32 points off errors, totaling 21 attack errors, six service errors and five ball handling errors in the loss.

Emily Greenhalgh (Conifer, Colo./Conifer H.S.) and Bri Morley (Parker, Colo./Cherokee Trail H.S.) each led the Roadrunners with eight kills apiece.  Anna Mapes (Chaska, Minn./Chaska H.S.) hit .385 with six kills and one error in 13 attempts.  Junior Darcy Schwartzman (Aurora, Colo./Eaglecrest H.S.) played the first two sets at setter, dishing out 19 assists and recording the team's only ace in the match.  Freshman Sarah McGaffin (Phoenix, Ariz./Horizon H.S.) took over for her in the third set and had six assists and two kills.  Ngoc Phan (Lone Tree, Colo./Cherry Creek H.S.) paced the defense with 13 digs.

Metro State will look to rebound this evening with a 5 p.m. (PDT) match against No. 24 Alaska Anchorage.