DENVER – As far as volleyball senior classes go, they aren't many that can compare with MSU Denver's.
 
Rylee Hladky, Ember Canty, Mikalyla McClinton and Maddie Lindsay will go through Senior Day ceremonies prior to Saturday's 4 p.m. match against Fort Lewis at the Auraria Event Center.
 
Hladky, Canty and McClinton, as a result of the COVID exception, are playing a fifth season with the Roadrunners, while Lindsay is in her second season.
 
During the past five seasons, the Roadrunners' seniors have thus far compiled a record of 124-21, including 73-4 in regular-season Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference competition, with two regular-season league titles and a conference tournament championship and the possibility of adding to each of those.
 
They were major cogs in the RMAC-record run of 48 consecutive wins in regular-season league play that ended earlier this season, and – at 18-5 overall and 10-1 for first place in the RMAC – they are headed toward a fifth-straight NCAA Division II Tournament appearance (and the program's 23^rd in a row).
 
They've helped the team to the No. 1 ranking in Division II for a total of nine weeks during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, and they've been in the national top 10 for 36 straight polls, as well as for 48 of the last 50.
 
"This is a group came in as freshmen (in 2019) and had a good year, and then COVID hit in the spring of their freshmen year," MSU Denver coach Jenny Glenn said. "If you look at it, with the conference winning streak, its arguably the most successful cohort to ever play in the RMAC. They were able to do that through a challenging time and remained focused and driven.
 
"I'm really proud of this group of seniors. Their time here has cemented the culture of MSU Denver volleyball. They've had a huge impact, and set the bar for what excellence looks like for us."
 
Senior Day is actually just the third of three home matches the Roadrunners will play this week – they also face Colorado School of Mines on Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Western Colorado on Friday at 6 p.m. And there is potential for the seniors to play at least three more home matches next week, should the Roadrunners win the RMAC regular-season title (two wins would secure the No. 1 seed) and reach the tournament championship match.
 
So get used to a whole lot of home volleyball – after having six home matches from Sept. 15 through Nov. 3, there could be six in 11 days.
 
The Roadrunners are also in a stretch where they are playing five matches in nine days and could potentially have eight in 16 days should they reach the RMAC tournament championship match. That's a stark contrast from the 13-day stretch from Sept. 30 through Oct. 12 when they had one match.
 
Such is RMAC scheduling this season.
 
"For us, we're trying to manage our recovery time while also getting better," Glenn said. "There are things we think we can improve upon, so it's a balancing attack of recovery and practicing. For our players, they're probably over practice at this point of the year, so it's great to have three matches. They want to play, and we are learning a lot in each match."
 
Hladky is likely the most decorated performer in program history. The list of accolades – two-time first-team All-American, two-time South Central Region Player of the Year, two-time RMAC Player of the Year, Academic All-American of the Year, two-time Academic All-American … and we're just getting warmed up – is seemingly endless.
 
She's one of seven players in program history to have more than 1,000 kills (1,410) and 1,000 digs (1,232), and she's near the top of the program lists, if not at the top (like in service aces, with 157), in nearly every rally-scoring era (since 2001) category.
 
"Rylee, as a person and as a player, is one of the best to ever come through MSU Denver," Glenn said. "I've said it before, from the jump she was a learner. I saw that on her recruiting visit. She didn't necessarily have a lot of club volleyball experience (she was a two-time Wyoming state basketball player of the year in high school), but you knew she was going to work as hard as she could to be the best that she could be. She's carried a big load for five years – she's been on the court for six rotations nearly every match since her freshman year.
 
"Her leadership, her focus … she's driven to succeed, and she's a passionate player whose pure love for her teammates is unmatched."
 
Canty and McClinton have been an unmatched middle blocking tandem throughout their careers – they rank first and third, respectively, among active Division II players in career total blocks (Canty has 455, McClinton has 405) and they've rewritten the program's rally-scoring era record books, ranking 1-2 in total blocks, 1-2 in block assists (Canty has 386, McClinton 365), 1-4 in blocks per set (Canty 1.06, McClinton 0.988) and tied for first (Canty, 69) and eighth (McClinton, 40) in solo blocks.
 
Canty is in her sixth season with the program after redshirting in 2018. In overall program history, even including the sideout era, she's third in block assists, tied for third in blocks and eighth in blocks per set.
 
"I would barely know MSU Denver volleyball without Ember Canty here," said Glenn, in her eighth season as head coach. "To watch her grow from her freshman year to now has been an incredible testament to work ethic, persistence and perseverance. For her to stick through it when it wasn't easy is a beautiful lesson for so many athletes. If you work hard and don't quit, eventually it pays off. Her journey has been so remarkable, and we're really going to miss her IQ, her work ethic and how she keeps us all together, on task and on track."
 
McClinton burst onto the scene into a starring role as a true freshman, but her initial campaign was derailed after 18 matches due to injury. She's since recovered to rank fourth in program history in block assists, seventh in hitting percentage (.327) and 12^th in blocks per set.
 
"Mikayla's story has been really cool," Glenn said. "She goes into what we call beast mode on the court. She has a way that inspires the team, that's light and fun but also super competitive. She's been really efficient in the middle blocker position. And her growth as a person has been really fun to watch, too, to see her grow into a strong woman who knows exactly who she is."
 
Lindsay was an original MSU Denver recruiting target who began her college career at Division I Hartford, where she was the America East Conference's Freshman of the Year. She joined the MSU Denver program last season, was a mainstay while Hladky dealt with injuries and illness earlier this season, and is a viable – and valuable – option if the All-Americans at her position (Hladky and Riley Anderson) falter at any point during any match. Lindsay has 174 kills for an average of 2.1 per set as a Roadrunner and overall has 746 career kills.
 
"Maddie has only been with us for two years, but it feels like she's been here the whole time," Glenn said. "She's been a great addition to the team. She's an old soul with a ton of wisdom and perspective. She's one of the best teammates I've ever coached – she truly wants what's best for the team. If she's on the bench she's helping those on the floor, and when she's on the floor she's doing everything she can to help us. She's a fun human being to be around."
 
Don't get Glenn started thinking about how difficult it's going to be to replace this group.
 
But at least one thing that will keep that off her mind is negotiating this week.
 
Wednesday's opponent, Colorado School of Mines, is having an uncharacteristically down season, but the Orediggers (12-11 overall, 5-6 for 10^th in the RMAC) are always at their best at season's end and they are fighting to get one of eight spots in the RMAC Tournament.
 
"It's an unusual thing for them to be where they are, but they're playing for a tournament spot, trying to win matches," Glenn said. "They're perennially very good at the end of the season and they've continued to grow throughout the season. They're still getting better each week."
 
Western Colorado is 5-19 and 2-10 for 13^th, but took a set from CSU Pueblo – the team that broke MSU Denver's record league win streak – last weekend.
 
Fort Lewis is 13-11 and 6-6 for a tie for seventh and has won four straight, including a come-from-behind 3-2 win over CSU Pueblo on Saturday.
 
"That's a scary team," Glenn said. "I've watched them as I've been scouting their opponents pretty often, because they'll typically play those teams right before we do. They're aggressive and have some really nice pieces. Their middles can score and they have a left-side with a heavy arm. They play an aggressive style of volleyball and we'll have to make sure we're ready."