Box Score

DENVER - Several team and NCAA records were broken on Saturday night as Colorado Mines upset No. 9 Metro State 26-24, 26-28, 25-21, 24-26, 26-24 in one of the most dramatic volleyball matches in history.  The two teams both topped the Division II record in the 25-point rally scoring era for total points as Mines had 127 and Metro State had 123.  The previous record was 121 set by West Texas A&M in 2008.  The two teams also set the record for most points combined at 250.

It was also the longest fifth set in either school's history. No NCAA record is listed for longest fifth set.

With three of the first four sets going past the 25-point mark to decide a set, the best-of-15 fifth set proved to be even more exciting than the previous four.  Metro State broke a 2-2 tie with four straight points, capped by two kills from Lauren Quijano (Wildomar, Calif./Elsinore H.S.).  The Roadrunners stretched their lead to 8-4, taking control of the set at the side-switch marked by the midway point.  However, the Orediggers rattled off five points in a row to take a 9-8 lead thanks to three Metro State errors.

Metro State snapped an 11-11 tie with three consecutive points to reach match point after kills from Alysa Heath (Littleton, Colo./Chatfield H.S.) and Bri Morley (Parker, Colo./Cherokee Trail H.S.), as well as an attack error on the Orediggers.  But Mines fought off three match points to tie the set at 14-14.  The two teams went into an incredible battle at that point.  The fourth set included 17 ties as neither team was able to put together a run.  The Roadrunners had several chances past the 14-14 tie to win the match. Mines fought off match point again at 15-14, 20-19 and 21-20.  Metro State also fought off several match points at 16-15, 17-16, 18-17, 22-21, 23-22 and 24-23 before finally caving as Amanda Massey served an ace that caught the line in the back-left corner of the court to end the match.

All four of the previous sets were close, but the fourth had another dramatic finish.  Metro State trailed 23-19 before scoring seven of the final eight points and fighting off match point three times.  The Orediggers led 24-21 when Heath and Morley went off for four kills in the final five points.  Emily Greenhalgh (Conifer, Colo./Conifer H.S.), with one serve attempt all season, was forced back to the service line to serve the final point as Metro State had run out of substitutions.  Her serve was passed off the net, setting up Morley for the eventual kill.

Morley ended up matching CSM's Jackie Stabell and Melanie Wannamaker for a match-high 18 kills.  Morley had seven kills in the fourth set and four in the fifth, providing the Roadrunners a boost when they needed it.  She also had six digs and two aces.

Three other Metro State players joined Morley in double digits in kills, including Heath with a career-high 16, and Quijano and Emily Greenhalgh (Conifer, Colo./Conifer H.S.) with 14 each.  Heath hit .379 in the match and added three digs and three blocks.  Quijano hit .323.  Greenhalgh also had four blocks.

Ngoc Phan (Lone Tree, Colo./Cherry Creek H.S.) provided 26 digs from the back row, and five assists.  She also had a key kill in the second set, helping the Roadrunners rally from a 22-19 deficit.  On the play, she set the second ball into the back corner for a point.

Alex Green (Peoria, Ariz./Cactus H.S.) added 14 digs and setter Darcy Schwartzman (Aurora, Colo./Eaglecrest H.S.) had 10.  Schwartzman also had 38 set assists and Vanessa Gemignani (Colorado Springs/Doherty H.S.) had 26.

For the match, Metro State outhit CSM .249 to .243 and had 10 blocks, compared to five for the Orediggers.

Metro State will host New Mexico Highlands at 7 p.m. on Thursday.