DENVER – Bummed that MSU Denver finished "only" in third place at the Colorado Premier Challenge after winning it all last year?
 
Don't be.
 
The fourth-ranked Roadrunners stand 7-1 this season with three victories over ranked teams and the only loss coming to a team that was ranked No. 6 at the time. Last year, even after winning the Premier, MSU Denver was 6-2 and also had three wins over ranked teams but had also lost to teams ranked No. 14 and unranked.
 
You may remember how 2021 turned out, right? MSU Denver rolled through the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season at 18-0.
 
"We're in a good spot," MSU Denver coach Jenny Glenn said. "Each week we're learning more and more about ourselves, and I think the team is buying into the things it needs to buy into to play our best volleyball. I'm pleased with our progress the last couple of weeks."
 
Now, no one is saying another undefeated RMAC regular season is on the horizon. The league has four teams ranked in the top 25 – including No. 21 Colorado Mesa, which just happens to be coming into the Auraria Event Center for the league opener Thursday night at 7 p.m. on Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night.
 
"There's no rest for weary," Glenn said, laughing. "But we love playing good volleyball. It's a great way to open our (conference) season. Mesa plays aggressive volleyball, and it's always a really good match against them. We're looking forward to continuing to play at a high level after the Premier."
 
The match will be MSU Denver's fifth straight against a nationally-ranked opponent. One thing different about this ranked opponent is that there are few mysteries to be revealed.
 
"In the preseason, scouting is limited," Glenn said. "In conference play, we all know each other inside and out. So a lot of times it comes down to who executes the scouting report better."
 
The Roadrunners earned two wins over Colorado Mesa last season, 3-1 in Grand Junction, Colo., and a thrilling 3-2 decision after rallying from two sets down at home.
 
Mesa is 5-2 this season, with the only losses coming in five sets to then-No. 22 Southwest Minnesota State and at No. 1 defending national champion Tampa (Fla.). The Mavericks' wins have all come in sweeps including against then-No. 19 Texas-Tyler.
 
"They return a lot from last year (Mesa played in the NCAA Tournament) and they've added a transfer," Glenn said. "They have two left-sides playing really well and hitting a high percentage, their middles are fast and aggressive and they added a transfer on the right side who is playing well. They have lots of veteran players who have been through this before."
 
While going 3-1 at the Premier, MSU Denver had left sides Rylee Hladky and Riley Anderson make the all-tournament team, while middle blocker Ember Canty was among the tournament leaders in blocks, setter Delaney Eckhardt was among the leaders in aces, and libero Ashlyn Cianciulli was among the leaders in digs.
 
But playing perhaps the most consistently across four matches was middle blocker Mikayla McClinton, who hit .421 (23 kills, seven errors, 38 attacks) while adding 12 blocks (0.86 per set).
 
"She's playing really consistently, and she has from day one of the preseason," Glenn said.
 
MSU Denver, which also travels to Fort Lewis for another RMAC match Saturday at 6 p.m., is seeking consistently great play to thwart Colorado Mesa on Thursday.
 
"Every time we play them it's a battle," Glenn said. "They play with so much energy."