DENVER – Setting a goal of winning a volleyball tournament like the Colorado Premier Challenge is a lot to think about.
 
So it's probably best not to.
 
"The reality is, what we are really focused on, is not even one match at a time, but one point at a time," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Jenny Glenn said. "As trite as that sounds, it's something this group is really trying to grab onto. Find a way to win one point. That's when tasks seem more manageable."
 
So the Roadrunners, as well as 11 other top NCAA Division II programs, come into the tournament hosted by both MSU Denver and Regis, trying to both survive and thrive, to be challenged without being overwhelmed, to improve without spiraling.
 
Winning some matches here and there seems like a bonus.
 
"It's going to be another great weekend for us," Glenn said. "I love that we're not getting let off the hook, and that we have to play difficult opponents. We're growing right now, every practice, every match. It may not be fun to go through the fire, but it's definitely going to make us better in the long run."
 
Each team plays two pool-play matches Friday, with teams moving into first-place (gold), second-place (silver) and third-place (bronze) brackets for two more matches Saturday.
 
MSU Denver (2-2) is in Pool 1 and has difficult matches scheduled for the Auraria Event Center, facing Texas A&M-Commerce (3-1) and second-ranked Concordia-St. Paul (3-1) at 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The Roadrunners beat Texas A&M-Commerce in a five-set thriller in last year's NCAA tournament. Concordia-St. Paul has won nine of the past 11 national titles, including last year.
 
"They are playing well right now," Glenn said of Texas A&M-Commerce. "They're going to come at us with a little bit different (faster-paced) style than we saw last weekend and I'm excited to see that.
 
"Then we turn around and play Concordia, who uncharacteristically has a loss already. They'll be a solid and mentally tough team that is used to winning."
 
But don't fret for MSU Denver's tough draw.
 
Consider Pool 4, a veritable "group of death" that will also be playing at the Auraria Event Center. That group includes third-ranked Lewis (Ill.), 13^th-ranked West Florida and 14^th-ranked Central Missouri.
 
Also in the field: No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State, No. 10 Regis and No. 21 Missouri Western. Angelo State (Texas) is 26^thamong teams receiving votes for the top 25. Regis, Missouri Western and Angelo State are all in Pool 3.
 
Ten of the 12 teams played in the NCAA tournament last year, with four of them reaching the Sweet 16. National player of the year Taylor Reiss of Southwest Minnesota State is in the field. There's RMAC player of the year  Nikki Kennedy of Regis, Concordia-St. Paul All-Americans Brooklyn Lewis and Elizabeth Mohr, Lewis All-Americans Abby Becker and Elizabeth Hyland and many other all-conference players.
 
Saturday's Gold Bracket matches will be played at Regis, with the championship scheduled for 7 p.m. The Silver and Bronze Bracket matches will be played at the Auraria Event Center, with those championships starting at 5 p.m.
 
MSU Denver's opening weekend included a loss to then-No. 11 Cal State San Bernardino and a road loss to a solid Central Washington. The Roadrunners also had a stirring, come-from-behind, five-set win over Seattle Pacific.
 
All in all, it wasn't perfect, but it wasn't bad either.
 
"Sometimes that first weekend is about experience, sometimes over talent," Glenn said. "The teams who are firing well are usually those with returners, or returners in key positions.
 
"I fully expect our team to continue improve throughout the year. We are experienced in some positions, but others we'll continue to dial in and get better.
 
"We want to win this time of year, but it isn't the most important time of year to win. We've got to keep the big-picture perspective and keep chipping away at things, and things will come together."
 
Capsules of the Colorado Premier Challenge teams:
 
POOL 1
 
No. 2 CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL GOLDEN BEARS (3-1)
 
Of note: Winners of nine of the last 11 national championships, including last year (they were 34-3)…Pre-season No. 1 team suffered 3-1 loss to then-No. 21 Ferris State (Mich.) last weekend…Picked to finish first in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
 
Players to watch: Brooklyn Lewis, 5-10, sr., OH (3.7 kills per set, .340 hitting percentage, 0.6 blocks per set; All-American became the first player from the school to average more than 4.0 kps for a season); Elizabeth Mohr, 5-7, sr., S (12.8 assists per set, 0.46 service aces per set, All-American led the country in assists last season); Erin Fallert,5-10, so., OH (4.2 dps).
 
Colorado Premier history: 13^thappearance, 43-9 record, five championships, twice runnerup, 10 total top-four finishes.
 
TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE LIONS (3-1)
 
Of Note: Lions were 21-12 last year and reached the Division II tournament for the first time in 29 years, where they lost a five-set match the MSU Denver in the first round…Picked to finish fourth in the Lone Star Conference…Lost to Harding (Ark.) last weekend, but also knocked off then-No. 16 Central Oklahoma.
 
Players to watch: Shelley Chapron 5-10 jr., MB/RS (.523 hitting percentage, 2.6 kps, 1.0 bps, preseason LSC defensive player of the year, 2017 All-LSC and LSC Newcomer of the Year); Jaslyn Wacker 5-10 sr., MB(3.0 kps, 1.2 bps); Rylie Fuentes 5-6 jr., S(7.1 aps); Daniela Santos 5-9 jr. OH(0.2 saps); Savannah Rutledge, 5-3, jr., L(4.9 dps).
 
Colorado Premier history: 1^stappearance
 
MSU DENVER ROADRUNNERS (2-2)
 
Of note: Roadrunners are one of four teams to reach the NCAA Division II tournament the past 18 consecutive years, and are tied for the third-longest current streak…Only four schools have made more than MSU Denver's 26 Division II tournament appearances…MSU Denver lost to then-No. 11 Cal State San Bernardino and at Central Washington last weekend…Reached the second-round of the NCAA tournament last year, finishing 22-9…Picked to finish third in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference…40^thamong teams receiving votes in the Division II poll.
 
Players to watch: Santaisha Sturges, 5-9, sr., OH (3.3 kps, preseason All-RMAC); Stephanie Laraway, 6-0, sr., MB (.316, 1.1 bps, preseason All-RMAC); Morgan Weatherwax, 5-11, jr., S (7.6 aps); Lyric Hebert, 5-4, so., DS/L (0.5 saps, 5.4 dps); Taylor Duryea, 5-11, sr., OH (2.8 kps).
 
Colorado Premier history: 23rd appearance, 41-47 record, one championship, four total top-four finishes.
  
 
POOL 2
No. 8 SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE MUSTANGS (2-2)
 
Of note: Regional No. 1 seed last year after winning the NSIC tournament, Mustangs finished 29-4 after losing in the second round…Ranked No. 2 in the preseason, the Mustangs lost to then-No. 7 Regis and then-No. 15 West Florida last weekend, but also defeated then-No. 5 Western Washington…Picked to finish second in the NSIC.
 
Players to watch: Taylor Reiss 5-10 sr. OH (AVCA national player of the year, two-time NSIC offensive player of the year, preseason NSIC player of the year, career average of 4.7 kps, MVP of West Florida tournament last weekend); Emma Thomssen, 5-8, so., S (all-tournament at West Florida); Angela Young, 6-1, so., OH.
 
Colorado Premier history: 10th appearance, 27-9 record, one championship, three runnerup finishes, six total top-four finishes.
 
SAINT LEO (FLA.) LIONS (2-2)   
 
Of note:35^thamong teams receiving votes in the Division II poll…Reached the second round of the Division II tournament last year, finishing 23-7…Picked to finish fourth in the Sunshine State Conference…Lost to then-No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth and Findlay (Ohio) last weekend, but also beat then-No. 25 Flagler (Fla.).
 
Players to watch: Victoria Omoregie, 5-10 jr. RS (2.9 kps); Annabella Arcari, 5-10, jr. MB (.362); Reggie Van Devender, 5-8, sr., S (5.7 aps, 0.5 saps); Payton Bellano, 5-6, fr., DS (4.8 dps); Dallas Jasper, 5-9, sr., MB (1.0 bps); Ashley Quero, 6-1, so., OH (2.6 kps).
 
Colorado Premier history: Third appearance, 1-7 record.
 
 
COLORADO CHRISTIAN COUGARS (2-3)
 
Of Note: Opening weekend including a loss to then-No. 9 Northern State (S.D.)…Knocked off previously unbeaten Angelo State in a Wednesday warmup for the Premier...Picked to finish fourth in the RMAC…Plays host to Angelo State (Texas) Wednesday night…Finished 18-11 last season, including 14-4 in the RMAC.
 
Players to watch: Hope Baldrica, 6-1, sr., MH (.369, 2.6 kps, 0.8 bps, preseason All-RMAC); Kylee Wurster 5-9 sr., S (8.4 aps, preseason All-RMAC); Jacey Johnson, 5-9, so., OH (2.8 kps); Kaira Smith, 5-8, jr., DS(0.55 saps); Mariela Gonzalez, 5-4, jr., DS (4.3 dps); Kristy Dick, 6-0, fr., MH (1.0 bps).
 
Colorado Premier history: Sixth appearance, 9-11 record.
 
 
POOL 3
 
No. 10 REGIS RANGERS (2-2)
 
Of note: Reached the Elite Eight last year, going 31-4 overall and 17-1 in the RMAC...Preseason No. 7 played four ranked teams last week, beating then-No. 2 Southwest Minnesota State and then-No. 5 Western Washington after losing to then-No. 15 West Florida and then-No. 24 Wheeling Jesuit (W.V.).
 
Players to watch: Nikki Kennedy, 6-4, jr., MH (Returning RMAC player of the year is the league's preseason player of the year and defensive player of the year, 2.7 kps, .373, 0.31 saps, 1.1 bps); Caitlyn Burroway, 5-8, so., OH/RS (2.8 kps, preseason All-RMAC); Silvia Basso, 5-9, jr., S(9.9 aps, preseason All-RMAC); Drew Rhamy, 5-7, sr., DS (0.38 saps): Kristina Schell, 5-4, sr., L/DS (4.5 dps, preseason All-RMAC); Kristen Hornung, 6-2, sr., MB/RS (preseason All-RMAC); Kelsey Green, 6-0, jr., OH (preseason All-RMAC).
 
Colorado Premier history: 23rd appearance, 34-54 record, one championship, one runnerup, five total top-four finishes.
 
 
No. 21 MISSOURI WESTERN GRIFFONS (4-0)
 
Of note: Reached the second round of the NCAA Division II tournament last year, losing 3-1 to eventual champion Concordia-St. Paul to cap a 25-11 season…Picked to finish second in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
 
Players to watch: Stephanie Doak, 6-1, jr., (3.6 kps, first team All-MIAA); Lauren Murphy, 5-8, jr., S (All-MIAA, 11.3 aps); Shellby Taylor, 6-0, sr., RS/OH (All-MIAA, 0.8 bps); Rachel Losch, 5-10, jr., MH (second team All-MIAA, .500, 0.8 bps); Ali Tauchen, 6-0, so.,MH (MIAA freshman of the year, second-team All-MIAA, 2.1 kps, 0.6 bps); Audrey Keim 5-8 sr., L/DS(5.5 dps). 
 
Colorado Premier history: First appearance
 
ANGELO STATE (TEXAS) LADY BELLES (5-1)
 
Of note: 26^thamong teams receiving votes in the Division II poll…Knocked off Wednesday night in five sets at Colorado Christian…Went 21-10 last season, reaching the NCAA tournament…Picked to win the Lone Star Conference.
 
Players to watch: Meghan Parker, 5-7, jr., S (9.6 aps, 0.71 saps, Lone Star preseason setter of the year); Audrey Fragniere, 5-10, sr., OH (3.0 kps, .224); Baleigh Allen, 5-11, so., MB (2.2 kps, .343, 1.1 bps); Sundara Chinn, 5-10, jr., RS (3.4 dps).
 
Colorado Premier history: Sixth appearance, 11-10 record, three top-four finishes.
 
POOL 4
 
No. 3 LEWIS (ILL.) FLYERS (4-0)
 
Of note: Reached the Sweet 16 last year, finishing 33-3…Picked to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
 
Players to watch: Abby Becker, 5-11, sr., S (12.6 aps, first-team All-American); Elizabeth Hyland, 5-11, sr., OH (3.5 kps, second-team All-American); Alexandra Preuss, 5-9, jr., OH (4.2 kps); Morgan Goodman, 5-10, jr., OH (0.9 saps); Jamie Poppen, 5-8, so., L (4.6 dps); Caroline Stefanon, 5-10, jr., MH (2.9 kps, .400, 1.6 bps).
 
Colorado Premier history: Seventh appearance, 9-14 record.
 
No. 13 WEST FLORIDA ARGONAUTS (2-2)
 
Of note: Reached the Sweet 16 last year, finishing 30-7…Picked to win the Gulf South Conference…Opening weekend included wins over then-No. 2 Southwest Minnesota State and then-No. 7 Regis and losses to then-No. 24 Wheeling Jesuit (W.V.) and then-No. 5 Western Washington.
 
Players to watch: Jordyn Poppen, 5-10, jr., OH (3.4 kps, preseason All -GSC, first-team All-GSC); Makenzie Chrisman, 6-2, sr., MB (.279, 1.2 bps); Brogan Wallin, 5-8, jr., S (7.4 aps); Logan Kael, 5-7, so., L (0.61 saps, 4.0 dps, preseason All-GSC, GSC freshman of the year).
 
Colorado Premier history: Ninth appearance, 16-20 record, two fourth-place finishes.
 
No. 14 CENTRAL MISSOURI JENNIES (4-0)
 
Of note: Opening weekend included wins over then-No. 4 Florida Southern and then-No. 14 Arkansas Tech…Shut out of the NCAA field last year despite record of 25-8 overall and 14-4 in the MIAA…Picked to finish fourth in the MIAA.
 
Players to watch: Audrey Fisher, 6-0, so., MH(All-MIAA second team, 4.4 kps, .377); Ally Offerdahl, 5-8, so., S (All-MIAA second team, 11.4 aps, 0.43 saps, 4.7 dps); Kylie Hohlen, 5-10, sr., L/OH (All-MIAA, 3.0 kps, 4.4 dps); Hannah Engelken, 6-1, fr., MB (1.4 bps).
 
Colorado Premier history: 20th appearance, 46-30 record, one championship, twice runnerup, six total top-four finishes.