SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The season opener for the third-ranked MSU Denver volleyball team was similar to approaching a buffet line.
 
"We had a little bit of everything," MSU Denver coach Jenny Glenn said. "That's what you want to see in a first match. "It went back and forth in the first set, then in the second set we had a big lead and let them come back, and then in the third set we came from behind.
 
"It was a good first match for us. Things aren't ever going to be pretty in a first match, but we showed a lot of toughness to finish in three against a good Central Washington team with a lot of experience."
 
The Roadrunners defeated Central Washington 25-21, 28-26, 25-23 at the opening day of the Yotes Classic Showcase. While Central Washington received votes in the AVCA Division II national preseason poll, MSU Denver's next three opponents in the tournament – starting with Friday's 1 p.m. MDT match against No. 9 Cal State Los Angeles – are all in the national rankings.
 
Riley Anderson slammed 20 kills – including 16 through two sets – to pace the Roadrunners' attack. The 2022 AVCA All-America third team selection, while hitting .368 on 38 swings, nearly eclipsed the career-best 21 kills she had in a five-set match last season.
 
"She did a great job," Glenn said. "She came through at some clutch times and found ways to score."
 
Anderson had kills on each of MSU Denver's final four points in the second set, starting that run as the Roadrunners fought off set points at 25-24 and again at 26-25. MSU Denver had built an early 18-9 lead in the set and was still in front 22-13 before wobbling.
 
In the third set, Central Washington raced out to leads of 9-3 and 13-7 before the Roadrunners regrouped. They scored four straight points to take a 21-20 lead, then scored the final three points after falling behind 23-22.
 
"Central Washington threw a lot of things at us," Glenn said. "We were tested in multiple areas throughout the match, and for us to be able to battle through that shows a lot of resilience for this group."
 
Middle blocker Ember Canty was outstanding with eight kills on nine attacks (.889 hitting) and five blocks (two solo).
 
"Ember played really well," Glenn said. "She blocked well and attacked well, and I love how aggressive she's playing right now."
 
The Roadrunners had 11 total blocks, as Mikayla McClinton, Canty's middle-blocking partner added five of her own (one solo).
 
Rylee Hladky, the two-time All-America first team player, had a double-double of 11 kills and 11 digs. Delaney Eckhardt set 24 assists, and Amela Qershia had 23.
 
Meanwhile, in their debuts as right-side hitters, Maddy Williams had five kills and four block assists, while Skyler Michael had six kills and a block assist.
 
"They're learning the position, but they gave us some big blocks at key times," Glenn said. "Having that big block is deflating, and Central Washington's left-side is their go-to hitter and they did a good job of containing her."