Box Score

MONMOUTH, Ore. – No. 10 Metro State again rallied after dropping the first set to win 12-25, 25-14, 25-18, 25-15 over Central Washington in the final match of the GNAC Conference Challenge in Monmouth, Ore. The Roadrunners improved to 3-1 in the season-opening tournament. It was the third consecutive match Metro State rallied to win after losing the first set.

Setter Darcy Schwartzman (Aurora, Colo./Eaglecrest H.S.) helped the Roadrunners to a balanced attack offensively with 42 set assists, helping three teammates to reach double digits in kills. Bri Morley (Parker, Colo./Cherokee Trail H.S.) led the way with 13 kills, followed by Julie Causseaux (Dumas, Texas/Dumas H.S.) and Lisa Jones (Pueblo, Colo./Pueblo East H.S.) with 10 each. Metro State hit .284 for the match as a team, led by Anna Mapes (Chaska, Minn./Chaska H.S.) at .389 (9-2-18).

Morley recorded her second straight double-double, adding 15 digs to her 13 kills. Ngoc Phan (Lone Tree, Colo./Cherry Creek H.S.) and Alex Green (Peoria, Ariz./Cactus H.S.) also each had 15 digs. Schwartzman also had 11 digs. The strong defensive effort by the four helped hold CWU to just a .118 hitting percentage as a team. Metro State also had nine blocks, led by Causseaux with six total and Jones with five.

The Roadrunners had an abysmal first set, allowing Central Washington to hit .385, while Metro State connected at just a .094 clip. Again, errors plagued the Roadrunners as they committed five attack errors, four service errors, three serve-receive errors and one blocking error.

Leading 9-7 in the second set, Causseaux served five straight points as Metro State jumped out to a 14-7 lead. Metro State hit .387 in the second set and held CWU to .036.

The Roadrunners again hit .387 in the third set. Morley closed out the set with kills on four of Metro State's final five points.

Another strong defensive effort in the fourth set limited CWU to hit .028. Metro State led just 10-9, but scored 15 of the final 21 points to secure the win.

Metro State will co-host the Colorado Premier Challenge with Regis University beginning on Friday. The Roadrunners will face No. 15 Southwest Minnesota State and No. 7 West Texas A&M in pool play on Friday.