DENVER – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference volleyball tournament's semifinals and final return to the Auraria Event Center on Friday and Saturday and feature three of the top 11 teams in Division II.
 
No. 7 MSU Denver plays host to South Dakota Mines in a 5 p.m. semifinal on Friday, with the second semifinal scheduled for 7:30 p.m. that will pit No. 10 Colorado Mesa against No. 11 Regis.

The RMAC is partnering with the Denver Rescue Mission to complete a winter clothing and toy drive ahead of the holiday season. Fans attending are asked to consider donating the following items (bins will be on site): coats (adult and kids sizes), winter hats, gloves/mittens, large blankets, toys/board games for all ages.
 
While the Roadrunners, Mesa and Regis all seem to have trips to the NCAA Tournament's eight-team South Central Regional assured – they are second, third and fourth, respectively, in the regional rankings – seedings for the regional, as well as an outside chance of moving up to the top team in the rankings and earning the right to host the regional, are still at stake.
 
"It's do or die, and you've got to start working on that now," MSU Denver coach Jenny Glenn said. "You don't wait until the NCAA Tournament time to practice that mindset."
 
While MSU Denver, Regis and Mesa were the top three teams in the preseason coaches' poll, South Dakota Mines surprised many with a season that includes an 18-9 overall record and a 10-4 mark in league play in which the Hardrockers earned the tournament's fourth seed. They beat fifth-seeded CSU Pueblo in a five-set first-round match on Tuesday.
 
Due to its strength of schedule and Division II rankings standards that seem to favor losing to good teams more than beating average teams, South Dakota Mines isn't among the region's top 10 and would appear to need to win the RMAC Tournament in order to advance to the regional.
 
The NCAA Tournament field will be revealed on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
 
MSU Denver will hear its name called for the 23^rd consecutive tournament, but for now isn't looking too far into the future.
 
"One of the things we've been talking a lot about is being present, being in the moment, one point at a time," Glenn said. "If we can stay in that mindset, then it's not bigger than it is. It's just another point in volleyball and you need to go and execute that point."
 
Said right-side hitter Skyler Michael: "I'm aware that we're in the RMAC Tournament and it's a pretty big deal. But you just take it one at a time."