DENVER - University of Colorado Colorado Springs rallied for a 22-25, 25-21, 25-21, 25-21 win over Metropolitan State University of Denver on Tuesday night at the Auraria Event Center. The Roadrunners fell to 3-8 overall and 1-2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. UCCS improved to 7-5 and 2-1.
 
Michaela Smith (Littleton, Colo./Regis Jesuit H.S.) put down 18 kills to lead all players and hit .255. Vasati Fiatoa (Las Vegas, Nev./Bonanza H.S.) and Santaisha Sturges (Parker, Colo./Regis Jesuit H.S.) each had seven.
 
Defensively, Jackie Lopez (Encino, Calif./Notre Dame H.S.) had a career-high 20 digs, followed by Kylie Haun (Simpsonville, S.C./Hillcrest H.S.) with 19, Keirstyn Anderson (Prospect, Ore./Del Norte H.S.) with 11 and Brandi Torr (Albuquerque, N.M./La Cueva H.S.) with 10. Torr also had 39 assists.
 
Smith had seven kills in the first set and the Roadrunners used a pair of five-point runs to build a 17-9 lead. UCCS pulled within two points before MSU Denver held on as Smith finished the set with the team's final three points.
 
Both teams were strong defensively in the second set as MSU Denver held the Mountain Lions to a .080 hitting percentage, but the Roadrunners were held to a .122 hitting percentage. UCCS used an 8-2 run midway through the set to lead 16-12.
 
UCCS stepped up its defense in the third to hold MSU Denver to a .089 hitting percentage, forcing the Roadrunners into eight attack errors to lead the match 2-1 after three.
 
The Roadrunners used a six-point run in the fourth set to lead 17-14, but UCCS fought right back with seven of the next eight points to pull ahead.
 
Taylor Hamilton led UCCS with 12 kills and had eight blocks.
 
MSU Denver will travel to Adams State on Friday and Fort Lewis on Saturday.