DENVER – It was a Senior Night Block Party for MSU Denver.
 
MSU Denver racked up 15 blocks against Black Hills State on Saturday night, and the Roadrunners needed only three sets to do it in a 25-14, 25-18, 25-16 sweep.
 
It was the highest total of blocks for the program since getting 16 blocks – in a five-set match – against UCCS on Oct. 14, 2014.
 
"We did a good job blocking," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Jenny Glenn said. "Our block id back on track in a lot of ways. And we turned back a lot of balls and were able to be feisty defensively."
 
The Roadrunners' block was so widespread and effective that lone senior Alyssa Kelling – fifth in program history in block assists, ninth in total blocks and 10^th in blocks per set – needed only to produce three blocks.
 
Ember Canty had a career-high eight blocks, Avaline Lai had six (two solo) and Rylee Hladky had five (one solo). Alexis Benda and Kayla White (one solo) each had two blocks for the Roadrunners (19-6 overall, 14-2 and second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference).
 
Coming into the weekend, MSU Denver ranked 13^th in Division II with an average of 2.39 blocks per set – they averaged 5.0 per set Saturday.
 
"One of our goals was to out-defend them," Kelling said. "Blocks, digs, and holding them to a low hitting percentage."
 
Mission accomplished.
 
Black Hills State (11-14 overall, 9-8 RMAC) was held to an -.083 hitting percentage, the worst by an MSU Denver opponent since King (Tenn.) hit -.123 against the Roadrunners on Sept. 2, 2011.
 
"They did a nice job of making adjustments to try to create some discomfort for us," Glenn said, "but we battled through those things and were able to keep the ball off the ground."
 
Lai had 11 kills on .321 hitting, while Benda had six kills. Hladky and White each had five.
 
"Our right-sides are doing a good job," Glenn said, addressing the kill totals by Lai and Benda. "We want to have a good attack from that side and they've been pretty consistent."
 
Before a season-high crowd of 576, the Roadrunners fed off the positive energy that included the pre-game ceremony honoring Kelling.
 
"I was trying not to think about it," Kelling said of her pre-game mindset. "If I was thinking about, 'This is my big night,' it could have gone one of two ways. The nerves could have taken over. I'm not overthinking anything. I'm just trying to play every match and play each team as it deserves to be played."
 
Said Glenn: "Tonight was a great environment. I told the team after the game to enjoy it. The crowd was loud and into it, our fight song was playing from the pep band. It's been fun to watch the atmosphere grow in my last four years here, a lot of buzz and energy."
 
The tributes for Kelling keep coming, who last month was named the RMAC's Co-Academic Player of the Year.
 
"She's an incredible human being and an incredible volleyball player at the same time," Glenn said. "When those things intersect, that's pretty special."
 
Said Benda: "She's always been a leader since I've been here, but this year specifically she really has. She's like the mom of the team, always taking care of everyone. And she's a key point of our offense and defense."
 
Kelling said her time in the program has helped prepare her for the next step in life.
 
"This program has challenged me in so many ways," she said. "They really push academics here, which is so great to see from an entire athletic department.
 
"And, far as being a leader on this team, I've been in that role for a couple of years and at first it was uncomfortable. I wanted to be in that role, but I wasn't used to it. But it's allowed me to grow in so many different ways. I don't have to be on the volleyball court to use the lessons that I've learned."
 
But up next for the team are back-to-back matches at Chadron State next weekend to conclude the regular season. The Roadrunners are then in position to host a first-round match in the RMAC Tournament and have designs on qualifying for a 20^th straight NCAA Division II Tournament.