DENVER – In our last look at the MSU Denver volleyball team in action, the Roadrunners were pushing Regis to five sets in a first-round loss at the NCAA Tournament.
 
Regis went on to reach the national semifinals, with no team giving it a challenge equal to MSU Denver's. And MSU Denver had all but one key player returning for the next season.
 
That was 14 months ago.
 
"I've been really proud of this group for how it's handled everything," MSU Denver coach Jenny Glenn said. "They have this ability to continue to be flexible, to take whatever we've been given and overcome it. This fall we got a lot of training in, and we got a lot better. And so I think we're all hungry to compete."
 
The COVID-19 pandemic scrapped the traditional fall season in 2020. A 14-match spring season, not including the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament, is lined up. Some sort of regional and national invitational tournaments ais in the works, but nothing is official.
 
So the Roadrunners will jump into a season unlike any other with home matches Sunday at 11 a.m. against Fort Lewis and at 5 p.m. against No. 19 Colorado School of Mines.
 
What's the goal?
 
"Honestly, I don't think this group is thinking about anything more than competing," Glenn said. "We've talked about how to handle the spring situation that we're in, and what our big goal is.
 
"We have a phrase, 'Play to be great.' And we're going to be focused on that mentality this spring, because it gets tricky when you talk about competing for a championship right now. Matches will potentially be canceled. So more than anything, we're focused on being the team that plays to play great."
 
Chances are the Roadrunners could be great pretty often.
 
All but overlooked (33rd among teams receiving votes) in the pre-season national coaches' poll, RMAC coaches picked MSU Denver to tie Regis for first in the league pre-season poll. Regis has two of its top eight players returning, while MSU Denver has seven of its top eight regulars. In fact it has 11 of its top 12 from last season.
 
"It's coming back quickly," Glenn said. "We're a veteran team, so we can move at a quicker pace while bringing the freshmen along."
 
The most-decorated Roadrunner is Avaline Lai, the All-South Central Region right-side hitter who averaged 2.66 kills per set while hitting a team-best .331 last year.
 
All-RMAC second team selections Kayla White (team-best 2.97 kills per set) and Rylee Hladky (2.69) also return, as does outside hitter Alexis Benda (2.28). Sophomore Kaylee Corsentino came up big when needed and figures to continue her upward trajectory on the outside.
 
Meanwhile, middle blockers Mikayla McClinton (1.04 blocks per set, .282 hitting percentage) and Ember Canty (0.95, .240) split the starting role opposite departed All-RMAC first team standout Alyssa Kelling, and return to make that area a potential strength once again.
 
And, not only did returning setters Jessa Megenhardt and Joli Sadler averaged a combined 11.05 assists per set while directing the Roadrunners' 6-2 alignment, they were also among Division II's deadliest servers, with Megenhardt averaging 0.48 aces per set and Sadler 0.41.
 
Not to be overlooked, Caiden Rexius (4.2 digs per set) and Ashlyn Cianciulli (1.8) give MSU Denver two standout options for libero or back-row responsibilities.
 
With plenty of experience, and time on their hands for practice, the Roadrunners have attempted to grow their game.

"We've changed a lot," Glenn said. "Having a veteran team, and utilizing the amount of training without competition that we've had, we've incorporated a lot of new stuff. You're going to see a different style of Roadrunners volleyball. This group's volleyball IQ is really high."
 
Meanwhile, Glenn's ability to develop relatively raw material and turn it into high-end performances, also got a boost with the long layoff for her five-player freshman class. The group includes former Serbian National Team setter Amela Qershia, but also includes middle blockers Haley White and Maddy Williams, defensive specialist Trinity Weidinger and setter Delaney Eckhardt.
 
"Our freshman class, as a whole, doesn't have a ton of experience," Glenn said. "So the time in the gym has been really nice for them."
 
After a long fall with no competition, both the veterans and the rookies have been focused since returning from the holiday break.
 
"Enough has been taken away from them that they really appreciate being in the gym every day," Glenn said. "And as a coach, that's really fun. You have their undivided attention because they just love the game."