BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Playing a second five-set match in a span of 18 hours, 11^th-ranked MSU Denver had two match points on a talented Chaminade (Hawaii) team Saturday before ultimately dropping a hard-fought 3-2 decision at the Western Washington Invitational.
 
It was the first match of the weekend for Chaminade, while MSU Denver had played twice on Friday.
 
Still the Roadrunners led 14-12 in the fifth before Chaminade stayed alive by scoring the next three points. MSU Denver tied it back up 15-15, but the Silverswords scored the next two points to wrap up an 18-25, 25-21, 24-26, 25-23, 17-15 victory and improve to 4-1.
 
Momentum swung wildly throughout the match.
 
MSU Denver (2-1) cruised to the first set win but started slow in the second set, and attempted to surmount deficits of 10-4 and 17-9.
 
The Roadrunners jumped out to a 12-5 lead in the third set, but found themselves trailing 24-22 before fighting off two set points and scoring the next four points to take the set.
 
Chaminade bolted to a 13-2 lead in the fourth, and though the Roadrunners closed within one point six times – including 24-23 – the Silverswords had just enough to hold on.
 
The teams traded every other point for the first 14 points of the fifth set, with the 7-7 tie the seventh tie of the set. MSU Denver had some breathing room at 9-7 before being tied 9-9, then held leads of 11-9 and 12-10 before being tied 12-12. The Roadrunners pushed it to 14-12 before the Silverswords' final rally.
 
Rylee Hladky led four MSU Denver players with double-digit kills at 16, while also adding 15 digs and four blocks. Avaline Lai had 15 kills on .364 hitting and picked up a career-high 10 digs, Alexis Benda had 12 kills, and true freshman Riley Anderson had 11 kills and three service aces.
 
Ember Canty had seven blocks (three solos), Ashlyn Cianciulli had a career-high 29 digs and second-year freshman Amela Qershia had career bests of 31 set assists, four aces and 13 digs.
 
The Roadrunners will attempt to overcome fatigue in their final match of the weekend Saturday night at 8:30 MDT against 14^th-ranked host Western Washington. The match will be Western Washington's second of the weekend and first of the day.