DENVER – Apparently there's no reason to just ease into the volleyball season.

Not for Metropolitan State University of Denver anyway.

The Roadrunners, who played NCAA Division I Colorado State in an exhibition match last week, open the regular season Thursday at 6 p.m. MT in Seattle against NCAA Division II No. 11 Cal State San Bernardino, one of four opponents they'll face in a tournament at two sites in the state of Washington. The three-day Falcon-Wildcat Invitational also includes matchups with Central Washington (Friday), Fresno Pacific (Saturday) and Seatlle Pacific (Saturday).

MSU Denver's home opener is at the Colorado Premier, beginning Aug. 31, against returning Division II tournament qualifier Texas A&M-Commerce, whom the Roadrunners beat in five sets in the first round. Later that night, the Roadrunners face defending national champion Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.).
 
"Why not?" MSU Denver coach Jenny Glenn said of the tough start. "That's why we scheduled preseason the way we did, so that we would have a lot of experience under our belt. It feels like we're a couple of weeks into our season from a mental standpoint, because we have been battle-tested and challenged.

"Some things that have been exposed have been addressed, and we don't have a loss to our name."

The Roadrunners, in search of a 19^th straight trip to the Division II national tournament, return four starters and three others who played regularly for a team that went 22-9 overall, and placed third in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference at 16-2. They are also hungry after having had their season cut short in the second round of nationals.

"That definitely fuels us," outside hitter Santaisha Sturges (Parker, Colo./Regis Jesuit) said. "After last year ended, I just wanted to get in the gym and get started for this season. We all wanted to get better and not go out how we did last year."

Making an even deeper run this year is a long-term goal, of course. They can't get there in August, but they can get started.

"Like most people, our goal is to win conference and go to the NCAA Tournament, get to the Elite Eight and the national championship – that's the big picture," outside hitter Taylor Duryea (Logan, Utah/Sky View) said. "But I think we really focus on day-by-day, game-by-game. We don't look ahead too far – if we do, and not focus the games in front of us, then all that at the end won't matter because we won't get there."

Duryea and Sturges are two of the Roadrunners' three seniors, joined by middle blocker Stephanie Laraway (Lakewood, Colo./Lakewood). Sturges and Laraway were named  preseason All-RMAC by league coaches.

Last season, Sturges pounded 4.1 kills per set while hitting .270, and was second on the team with 3.5 digs per set. Laraway averaged 2.1 kills while hitting .319, and added 0.84 blocks. Duryea averaged 2.7 kills.

Key players that must be replaced are outside hitter Vasati Fiatoa (Las Vegas, Nev./Bonanza H.S.) (1.8 kills on .339 hitting, with 0.71 blocks), setter Alyssa Svalberg (Aurora, Colo./Grandview H.S.) (10.8 assists per set) and Jackie Lopez (Encino, Calif./Notre Dame H.S.) (4.2 digs).

Despite having holes to fill, the Roadrunners appear to have plenty of options with returning veterans and talented newcomers.

Of particular interest will be the setter position, where Glenn will have a third starter in three seasons. Junior Morgan Weatherwax (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain), a junior college transfer, and sophomore Jessa Megenhardt (Berthoud, Colo./Berthoud) have seen plenty of preseason action, while redshirt freshman Mikaela Kubiak (Kalamazoo, Mich./Portage Central) continues to return from injury.

"With the opportunities to play multiple match situations in the preseason, we've been able to try a lot of different things," said Glenn , whose team also faced a strong alumni squad in an exhibition. "We have three really good options, and we can move things around based on how the match is going, how much offense we need. We have depth with our attackers, and that depth gives us options with the type of offense that we run.

"Both of our (healthy) setters are working hard. Our hitters are comfortable with both."

Alexis Benda (Las Cruces, N.M./Oñate) (1.8 kills per set), Alyssa Kelling (Merton, Wis./Arrowhead) (0.8 kps), Kayla White (Montgomery, Ala./Montgomery Academy) (0.4 kps, 1.8 digs per set, 0.24 aces per set) and Lyric Hebert (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley) (2.7 dps, 0.25 aces per set) are back to build on their previous experience with potentially larger roles. Freshman middle blocker Avaline Lai (Boulder, Colo./Fairview) led the Roadrunners in kills against Colorado State, while sophomore transfer Caiden Rexius (Eaton, Colo./Eaton) was second on the team with 11 digs in that same match.

MSU Denver has spent time trying to establish its identity and the qualities it takes to go further in the postseason. One of those qualities is expected to be relentlessness.

"Our defense is a strength," Duryea said. "We're a feisty team. Everyone is really competitive."

That will be needed in the RMAC, where Regis and Colorado School of Mines enter the season nationally-ranked. MSU Denver, 35^th among teams receiving votes for the national poll, is picked to finish third in the league.

"I think the RMAC is going to be up this year," Glenn said. "It's going to be a battle to be at the top. There are a lot of teams that return key players. It's going to be fun to see who rises up out of that group."

Glenn said that her team is determined to stay humble, but hungry.

"In everything we do, we focus on that (particular) day," Sturges said. "We just try to own the moment – those are the words we're using. That helps us prepare for the next practice, the next game."

Where will that lead? Like every team, MSU Denver hopes that it's someplace it's never been before. The next step for the program would be an Elite Eight appearance.

"But there are so many pieces that have to happen first," Glenn said. "We hold loosely to the outcome goals and use them as guidance. But we always want to strive to do what we've never done."

First serve for the Roadrunners' season-opening match vs. Cal State-San Bernardino will be at 6 p.m. Thursday in Seattle. Fans can watch the match live, follow live stats, or visit the tournament central site at the links above. Follow @MSUDenverVB on Twitter for additional updates.