DENVER – The temptation may be there, but No. 2 MSU Denver refuses to give in.
 
The Roadrunners face to teams in the bottom half of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings this weekend, playing Friday night at South Dakota Mines (8-6 overall, 2-4 RMAC) and Saturday at Black Hills State (4-10, 1-5). Friday's match is at 7 p.m., while Saturday's starts at 5:30 p.m.
 
"I don't get the sense this team is overlooking anyone right now," MSU Denver coach Jenny Glenn said. "Each week we have very specific goals that we want to accomplish from a big-picture perspective from our side of the net. And what we do on our side of the net sets us up for success. Our weekly goals keep them motivated."
 
MSU Denver is 12-2 overall and 6-0 in the RMAC and has won 10 straight matches for the first time since 2017.
 
But the last time the Roadrunners traveled to South Dakota Mines, on Oct. 12, 2019, the Hardrockers knocked off an MSU Denver team that was in first place and on an eight-match win streak.
 
Both South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State play different styles that will require some adjustments.
 
"They both have different tempos to their offenses than what we've played against recently," Glenn said. "So we have to make sure we're disciplined defensively and stick to what is working for us in our serve and pass game."
 
What has been working extremely well is a heavy dose of Rylee Hladky. The outside hitter has won the past two RMAC Offensive Player of the Week awards while hitting .373 and averaging 4.4 kills per set.
 
"She's been playing great, and I think we've seen her confidence go up just in the last couple of weeks as she's understanding and recognizing things and knows what solutions she has with her ability to score in multiple scenarios," Glenn said.
 
Already an All-RMAC first team performer from last season, Hladky has stepped it up.
 
Hladky leads the RMAC in kills per set (3.6) and points per set (4.2) and ranks second in service aces per set (0.44).
 
"She's our only six-rotation player on the floor and that comes with a load – not only from a leadership position, but as a left side you have to do every skill on the floor," Glenn said.