Denver- The Metropolitan State University of Denver volleyball (20-7, 16-2 RMAC) team defeated Colorado Mesa (17-10, 11-7 RMAC)  in three sets in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament quarterfinal match. 
 
MSU Denver got off to a strong start to start the first game of the match.  After Colorado Mesa scored the first point of the match, the Roadrunners went on to score the next seven points to take an early 7-1 lead.
 
The following minutes, the Roadrunners continued to hammer the Mavericks and held a 20-12 lead.  The Mavericks didn't give up and fought to the end cutting the lead down to three.  A kill from freshman Alexis Benda (Las Cruces, N.M./Orate H.S.) and a set point from junior Taylor Duryea (Logan, Utah/Sky View High School) would end the set at 25-22.
 
Duryea and Benda carried the energy into the second game earning the first three kills of the set. The Roadrunners were able to maintain a solid lead, leading by as many as 9 with a score of 22-12.  However, Mesa came up big with another fight to the end cutting the lead to five. 
 
The Roadrunners stay composed and finished the second set on top 25-21.
 
The third set proved to be a closer battle with two lead changes and five ties, but the Roadrunners were able to run away with it 25-21.
 
The Roadrunners were let by Duryea who finished the night with 13 kills.  Benda a junior Santaisha Sturges (Parker, Colo./Regis Jesuit H.S.) both finished with nine kills in the match. Senior Jackie Lopez (Encino, Calif./Notre Dame H.S.) posted a game high 21 digs for her team and senior Alyssa Svalberg (Aurora, Colo./Grandview H.S.) tallied 39 assists.
 
MSU Denver will take on No. 17 Colorado School of Mines on Friday, November 17.