Box Score SAN DIEGO - Metropolitan State University of Denver opened the 2014 season with a 22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 29-27 win over Azusa Pacific on Friday at the Seaside Invitational in San Diego.

Three Roadrunners reached double digits in kills, but perhaps the best performance came from sophomore middle blocker Vasati Fiatoa (Las Vegas, Nev./Bonanza H.S.), who had nine kills in just 12 attempts for a .750 hitting percentage. She also added five blocks. Kylie Haun (Simpsonville, S.C./Hillcrest H.S.) had 16 kills to lead the team, while Lauren Quijano (Wildomar, Calif./Elsinore H.S.) added 12 and Kylee Hoagland (Mead, Colo./Skyline H.S.) chipped in with 10.

A much-improved service game helped MSU Denver to the four-set win. After finishing 214th in NCAA Division II in service aces last season, the Roadrunners connected on 12 aces in Friday's opener, led by transfer Summer Greager (Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Springs Christian H.S.) with four. Haun and setter Brandi Torr (Albuquerque, N.M./La Cueva H.S.) also each had three.

Torr paced the setters, dishing out 40 assists, while playing in just three sets. Betty Van Lith (Eagle, Idaho/Eagle H.S.) had 14 assists in two sets of action. The two helped MSU Denver hit .304 in the match, which would have ranked as the seventh-best offensive match by the team last season.

Fiatoa led the strong play at the net, combining for five of the team's nine total blocks. Quijano and Hoagland also each had parts of four blocks each.

After hitting just .182 in the first set, the Roadrunners bounced back in the second to hit .448. They rallied from an 11-7 deficit to take a 20-18 lead after scoring six of seven points. Kills from Quijano and Haun broke a 23-23 tie to win the frame.

Again the Roadrunners had to rally in the third, trailing 13-7. Torr then served six straight points to tie the score at 13-13. A seven-point run served by Jackie Lopez (Encino, Calif./Notre Dame H.S.) put MSU Denver ahead 23-17.

For the third consecutive set, the Roadrunners rallied from a significant deficit to win. They trailed 16-11 in the fourth. Another strong effort brought the score even at 19-19 as the offense got going with kills from five different players in the comeback. APU held set point at 27-26, but three straight MSU Denver points ended the match. After a kill by Quijano, Lopez served an ace and then the match culminated with a combined block by Hoagland and Torr.

The Roadrunners will face host school Point Loma at 2:30 p.m. PT.