LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Avaline Lai just keeps getting better.

The MSU Denver sophomore has found a home on the right side of the floor during the 2019 season. In fact, she's moved all the furniture in and has begun to decorate.

Lai's 11 kills, six blocks and .360 hitting percentage helped the Roadrunners (16-4, 11-1 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) to a sweep on Saturday evening at New Mexico Highlands (25-16, 25-21, 25-17). Thanks in part to Lai's strong play at the net, MSU Denver limited the home team to an .082 hitting percentage, accumulating 12 blocks to stifle the Cowgirls (1-20, 0-13 RMAC).

"Ava just continues to lock down the right side of the court for us," MSU Denver coach Jenny Glenn said Saturday. "We continue to advance her tool belt every week and she's bringing it to matches. It's making her even harder to defend than she already was."

Though Lai's play stood out in MSU Denver's two weekend matches, Saturday evening's victory was the epitome of a team win.

"The results this weekend are a testament to Team 51 as a whole and our ability to make changes on the fly and still produce a high-quality product," Glenn said. "I was really pleased with our team and how we responded to different adversities we faced this week."

The Cowgirls played tough with the Roadrunners for much of the opening set. Leading 14-12, the Roadrunners kicked it into another gear, finishing the frame on an 11-4 run that included back-to-back service aces from junior setter Joli Sadler.

The second set was much closer, tied as late as 17-17 before MSU Denver took control. The Roadrunners eventually earned a 25-21 set victory.

Momentum belonged to the Red & Blue from there, as the Roadrunners sealed the deal in the third and final frame with strong play from start to finish. MSU Denver led 6-1 early on to force a New Mexico Highlands timeout.

The Cowgirls stuck around, but the early deficit was too much to overcome as the Roadrunners never let their opponents closer than four points for the remainder of the set. MSU Denver forced three consecutive attack errors to end the match, winning the final stanza 25-17.

"I think the story of tonight was our team playing as a team and going into a place that can be a difficult environment and controlling the match from start to finish," Glenn said. "It's a good (New Mexico Highlands) team even though their record doesn't show it."

Rylee Hladky notched a double-double with 11 kills and a team-leading 14 digs for the Roadrunners. Kayla White posted 11 kills, hitting an impressive .381 while getting in on three blocks.

Sadler recorded a career-high 37 assists in the win to go with three service aces. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Ember Canty had possibly the best match of her young career with five kills and zero errors for a .556 hitting percentage to go with four blocks.

Senior Alyssa Kelling was on brand with eight blocks as the MSU Denver middle blockers asserted their typical dominance.

The Roadrunners will stay on the road next weekend, heading to UCCS on Friday for a 7 p.m. first serve. MSU Denver will follow its trip to Colorado Springs with a 5 p.m. match at Colorado School of Mines on Saturday in Golden.