Monterey, Calif.- The Metropolitan State University of Denver volleyball team began its 2017 campaign on Friday, September 1 at the Otter Classic hosted by Cal-State Monterey Bay. The Roadrunners earned their first win of the season in the first match of the day 3-0 against Dixie State.
 
The first set both sides went back and forth, with MSU Denver in control of the set.   Junior Santaisha Sturges (Parker, Colo./Regis Jesuit H.S.) began the set for the Roadrunners with two back-to-back kills followed by a Trailblazer error to put the Roadrunners up 3-0. Dixie State fought back to tie the set up at three, however, following the even score MSU Denver would never lose the lead in the set, taking the first set 25-19. Sturges tallied eight first set kills for the Roadrunners.
 
The Roadrunners dominated the second set of the match after a kill from junior Stephanie Laraway (Lakewood, Colo./Lakewood H.S.) led to a 8-1 rally for MSU Denver to go up on the Trailblazers 18-9.  The Roadrunners finished the set strong allowing just two more points for their opponents, winning the set 25-11.
 
The Trailblazers took their first lead of the match early in the third set but a kill from Sturges would even the score at five.  Dixie State was then able to rally four points on the Roadrunners and would continue to lead by four until the Roadrunners were able to bring the score within one at 16-17. MSU Denver continued the fight tying the sore up at 20. The final points proved to be a battle between the sides. The Roadrunners fought back after going down 20-22 and with the set tied at 23, a kill from junior Taylor Duryea (Logan, Utah/Sky View High School) and Laraway would give the Roadrunners the final two points of the set to take the final set 25-23.
  
 In the second game of the tournament for MSU Denver, the Roadrunners took on Cal-Poly Pomona.
 
The Broncos got off to a strong start in the first set taking a 7-2 lead over the Roadrunners. But MSU Denver made a comeback to tie the set at 10. Despite a battle for the rest of the set, the Broncos were able to take a 26-28 first set win over the Roadrunners.
 
The Broncos momentum would carry over to the second set, winning the second set 20-25.  But the Roadrunners were resilient and pulled off a huge comeback to take the next three sets.
 
MSU Denver won the third set 25-20, the fourth set 25-21 and the fifth set 15-9.
 
The Roadrunners are now 2-0 on the season going into the second day of the tournament. Sturges led the way in the second match, tallying 17 kills.  Sophomore Alyssa Kelling (Merton, Wis./Arrowhead H.S.) and Junior Taylor Duryea (Logan, Utah/Sky View High School) added 11 kills in the match.  Senior Alyssa Svalberg (Aurora, Colo./Grandview H.S.) had a career high 46 assists against the Broncos.
 
The Roadrunners will play in two matches tomorrow at the Otter Classic. The first match will take place against Northwest Nazarene at 11:30 a.m. PT and the second against tournament host Cal-State Monterey Bay at 7 p.m. PT.