GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – No. 2 MSU Denver earned a quality road win Friday, taking three close sets in a 3-0 sweep at No. 20 Colorado Mesa.
 
The Roadrunners, who won their 27^th straight regular-season Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference match dating to the 2020 season, came from behind to win each of the first two sets before playing with the lead for most of the third set.
 
"It was a super-gritty match and I'm really proud of the grit that we showed," MSU Denver coach Jenny Glenn said. "It was a tough environment and Mesa played really well. They were aggressive and came at us, and I'm happy with how we responded with composure and confidence, and how we were able to finish it off in end games."
 
Ultimately MSU Denver (12-1 overall, 5-0 RMAC) won 25-23, 27-25, 26-24. Mesa dropped to 8-4 and 3-2, with both losses to MSU Denver.
 
"We gave up a few runs, but we got some runs and then all of a sudden we were in it for the end game," Glenn said.
 
Rylee Hladky led the Roadrunners with 13 kills, though Maddie Lindsay came off the bench and in two sets had nine kills on .421 hitting (one error, 19 attacks). Kelsey Gordon added eight kills.
 
"We had Maddie come in off the bench and give us a different look offensively and did a great job of scoring," Glenn said. "She's someone they probably hadn't scouted as much to this point, and she was able to attack from a higher angle and create good opportunities against a block that was going a great job. She found ways to score."
 
Mikayla McClinton had a team-best five blocks, while Hladky and Ashlyn Cianciulli each had 11 digs. Amela Qershia had a team-high 21 assists.
 
Ultimately it was a team effort.
 
"Our passers did a good job, and when they struggled our setters were able to get us back in system, and when the sets weren't there the hitters did a good job," Glenn said. "And credit to Mesa for doing a lot of things to make us uncomfortable."
 
The Roadrunners now travel to Westminster for a 4 p.m. match on Saturday.