DENVER – The newest phase of the RMAC volleyball schedule comes to fruition this weekend, as No. 7 MSU Denver plays non-conference matches against conference opponents.
 
The Roadrunners play at Colorado Christian both Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m., facing the host Cougars on Thursday before playing a neutral-site match against Colorado School of Mines on Friday.
 
League coaches passed a new scheduling arrangement starting this season that reduced the number of league matches that count toward the regular-season championship from 18 to 14. It means that only one match against other league teams in the 15-team arrangement counts towards the title.
 
But 18 matches are still scheduled, with one two-match weekend arranged geographically (as this weekend is) and one two-match weekend based on last season's conference finish (the Roadrunners will face nationally-ranked Regis and Colorado Mesa on Oct. 26 and 28) ,giving the top teams a chance to improve their strength of schedule for post-season consideration and others a chance to play more competitive matches.
 
What's all that mean for the Roadrunners this weekend?
 
Not that much.
 
"We see these as our next matches," MSU Denver coach Jenny Glenn said. "Every match we play has regional implications, so every match is important in that respect. We're thinking about, 'How do we win our next match?'"
 
MSU Denver (9-3 overall, 4-0 RMAC) has already won its RMAC match against Colorado Christian (6-6, 2-2), cruising to a 3-0 decision (25-19, 25-14, 25-22) on Sept. 15.
 
But that was also the first match of the season for the Cougars' Libby Goodman, an All-RMAC first team selection at outside hitter last season.
 
"One of their best players was just coming off injury, and she's playing a lot more comfortably now," Glenn said. "She's in the flow of things and elevating the level of the team as a whole. They are playing with renewed confidence their last couple of matches, and they'll be on their home court, and they'll bring it.
 
"Plus, any time you beat a team, they have the advantage in making adjustments. We'll have to see what they do and make adjustments back."
 
Next is the match with perennial power Colorado School of Mines, which is stunningly just 6-6 overall and 1-3 in league play.
 
"They just lost a couple of big pieces (their veteran setter and libero from the past few seasons) and they are still in the process of figuring it out," Glenn said. "They are getting better every week and they always run a very efficient offense. We're always prepared for their best any time we are across the net from them."
 
MSU Denver is coming off arguably one of its best regular-season league wins in Glenn's spectacularly successful run as head coach – she's 114-8 in regular-season RMAC play, including an ongoing league-record of 44 straight.
 
No. 43, last weekend, was a 3-1 victory at then-No. 11 Colorado Mesa, when the Roadrunners played without two-time All-American first team selection and two-time RMAC Player of the Year Rylee Hladky.
 
"It was a great win, on the road against an undefeated team, and not at full strength," Glenn said. "They played us hard, and it's just a tough place to play. If you want to let their crowd affect you, it can. But everyone played well."
 
Riley Anderson (offensive) and Maddy Williams (defensive) earned RMAC Player of the Week honors – surprising that it took until the fourth week of the season for MSU Denver to win even once, but maybe unsurprising in that the Roadrunners have a deep and talented roster.
 
After all, MSU Denver is 4-0 this season when Hladky has been unavailable.
 
The relentless pace of the schedule begins to ease for a bit starting this weekend. MSU Denver is off the next two Saturdays – a rarity for the program.
 
"This is a short week for us coming off tough road trip (MSU Denver played Saturday at Westminster), and then to recover and have two practices to get ready," Glenn said. "But it will be fun to have Saturday off, and next Saturday too (the Roadrunners play host to New Mexico Highlands on Friday, Oct. 6). That part of it will give us a nice mental refresh."