DENVER - Metropolitan State University of Denver fell 25-17, 17-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-6 to Colorado Mesa on Friday night at the Auraria Event Center. The Roadrunners dropped to 2-7 overall, while CMU improved to 3-6. It was the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener for both squads.
 
Friday marked the third time in the past three seasons the two teams have gone to five sets.
 
MSU Denver's offense was well-balanced as Stephanie Laraway (Lakewood, Colo./Lakewood H.S.), Vasati Fiatoa (Las Vegas, Nev./Bonanza H.S.) and Michaela Smith (Littleton, Colo./Regis Jesuit H.S.) each led the team with eight kills. Santaisha Sturges (Parker, Colo./Regis Jesuit H.S.) had seven in just three sets played. Brandi Torr (Albuquerque, N.M./La Cueva H.S.) had 39 set assists.
 
Defensively, Kylie Haun (Simpsonville, S.C./Hillcrest H.S.) led the way with 20 digs and was a perfect 22-for-22 in serve-receive.
 
The Roadrunners were held to just a .074 hitting percentage in the first set, but returned the favor to limit the Mavericks to .083 in the second. Smith caught fire with five kills in the third as MSU Denver led the match 2-1.
 
Again, the Mavericks defense held MSU Denver's offense in check in the fourth and fifth as the Roadrunners hit .030 in the fourth and minus-.111 in the fifth.
 
The Roadrunners will host new RMAC member Westminster (Utah) at 4 p.m. on Saturday.