DENVER – It's nearly impossible for No. 7 MSU Denver to have a player earn RMAC Setter of the Week honors.
 
But that doesn't mean the work of Amela Qershia and Delaney Eckhardt goes unnoticed for those around the program, even if those on the outside don't seem to get it.
 
In the Roadrunners' 6-2 system, two setters share the workload. Since co-players of the week are frowned upon and considering the work of a two-player system isn't an option, Setter of the Week goes to those from programs with one-setter systems, and only a few of the other top teams in the league have the kinds of statistics (and team results) needed to be truly deserving of the award.
 
But consider these things: MSU Denver is second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in assists per set (12.5). The Roadrunners are second in kills per set (13.6), are are third in hitting percentage (.248). Their setters are deadly at the service line, and are among the reasons the team is second in the RMAC in aces per set (1.83).
 
"We're finding a grove with our offense right now, and our setters are figuring out situations that will provide our hitters success," MSU Denver coach Jenny Glenn said. "Their decision-making is getting better every week. Their volleyball IQ continues to grow, and so does their vision for the game. They're finding ways to allow our hitters to go one-on-one and that's leading to success.
 
"And our ball control is getting better, and that's putting us in the (setting) box more often and keeping us in system, and when that happens, we can be pretty hard to defend."
 
Oh, and did we mention that one of the major benefits in having a two-setter system is that it means the Roadrunners' setter is (almost) never in a front-row rotation, enhancing the team's blocking ability? MSU Denver leads the RMAC in blocks per set (2.7) and total blocks (140), ranking second and seventh, respectively, in those categories in Division II.
 
The Roadrunners (11-3 overall, 4-0 RMAC) will attempt to show their progress in Friday's 6 p.m. home match against New Mexico Highlands (1-14, 0-4) – the team's only home date between Sept. 17 and Oct. 26 – at the Auraria Event Center.
 
While Qershia has 22 service aces in 14 matches, including 17 in the first nine of the season, and Eckhardt has 16 aces, both are also chipping in on the attack by being adept at the dump – or two-shoot, in MSU Denver parlance. Eckhardt has at least one kill in each of the last 10 matches (with 17 total during that time) and has 19 for the season. Qershia has seven kills, with all of those in the last nine contests.
 
"We're seeing both setters do it," Glenn said. "Delaney has a higher contact point and she's very deceptive with it, but they've both had a lot of success, and that's fun to see. It forces defenses to keep inside more, and we want to pressure the middle of the court."
 
Against Highlands, MSU Denver will be facing a team that has lost 28 consecutive sets.
 
"They are a really athletic team, and their style is a little different," Glenn said. "We'll have to play disciplined and smart volleyball."