Denver- The Metropolitan State University of Denver volleyball team finished third place in the bronze bracket of the 2016 Colorado Premier after splitting matches on day two.
 
MSU Denver faced off against West Florida in the first match of the day in the bronze bracket of the Colorado Premier Challenge.  The Roadrunners fell to the Argonauts 3-1.  The Roadrunners dropped the first set 25-18 and a followed it up with a close battle in the second set, eventually succumbing 26-24.  In the third set the Roadrunners held the Argonauts to just nine kills and a .054 hitting percentage, winning the set 25-18.  Senior Michaela Smith (Littleton, Colo./Regis Jesuit H.S.) posted a double-double for the Roadrunners with 11 kills and 15 digs.  Junior Ryan Hoedermann led the team with 12 kills in the match.  The Roadrunners were unable to complete the comeback and dropped the fourth set 25-13.
MSU Denver defeated Fort Smith 3-2 in its final match of the day.
 
The Roadrunners started strong winning the first set 25-15 and the second set 25-19. The Lions came back with a vengeance taking the third set 25-18 and the fourth set 24-17 bringing the match to a fifth set. But the Roadrunners wouldn't let up, claiming the fifth set 15-9.
 
Smith led the team with 28 kills on the match. She was followed by Sophomore Santaisha Sturgers with 14 and Hoerdemann adding 10 kills. MSU Denver played an offensive game having 71 kills to the Lions 43 and a hitting percentage of .266 on the match.
 
Smith was named to the all-tournament team with a total of 80 kills and 62 digs and a hitting percentage of .219 on the weekend.
MSU Denver will be back in action on Friday September 16 at 7 p.m. where they will face Regis University at the Auraria Event Center.