LAKEWOOD, Colo. - Metropolitan State University of Denver extended its winning streak to seven matches in dramatic fashion, rallying for a 22-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-19, 15-11 win at Colorado Christian on Saturday afternoon in Lakewood. The Roadrunners improved to 10-8 overall and 7-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, while CCU fell to 9-8 and 4-4.
It was the first time since 2013 the Roadrunners came back to win after dropping the first two sets and just the 10th time since 2000.
Michaela Smith (Littleton, Colo./Regis Jesuit H.S.) had a career-high 22 kills to lead MSU Denver to the win.
Vasati Fiatoa (Las Vegas, Nev./Bonanza H.S.) added 14 kills and hit .379 with six blocks.
Summer Greager (Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Springs Christian H.S.) had 10 kills and three service aces, while
Stephanie Laraway (Lakewood, Colo./Lakewood H.S.) had seven kills and
Ryan Hoerdemann (Littleton, Colo./Arapahoe H.S.) had six.
Brandi Torr (Albuquerque, N.M./La Cueva H.S.) assisted on 50 of the team's 62 kills and had nine digs.
Kylie Haun (Simpsonville, S.C./Hillcrest H.S.) paced the back row with 21 digs and
Keirstyn Anderson (Prospect, Ore./Del Norte H.S.) added 11.
The Roadrunners led 11-4 in the first set, but could not hold on as the Cougars scored seven of the last nine points to come from behind.
CCU's momentum carried into the second set as it led 6-1 and held on for at 25-18 win.
The Roadrunners pulled out a tight battle in the third, hitting .220 behind six kills from Smith. With the score tied 22-22, Laraway and Fiatoa had back-to-back kills before CCU gave the Roadrunners the final point with an attack error.
The fourth set was all MSU Denver, except for a brief run by the Cougars in the middle of the set. The Roadrunners jumped out to a 15-7 lead before CCU ran off eight consecutive points to tie it up. MSU Denver responded with the next six points, including a pair of aces by Greager to lead 21-15. The Roadrunners hit .229 in the fourth.
The fifth set was back-and-forth the entire way. MSU Denver led 8-7 on the side switch, but CCU led 11-9 after a brief run. The Roadrunners pulled away with the final six points as Greager finished the match with an ace.
MSU Denver will host New Mexico Highlands at 7 p.m. on Friday.
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