Golden, Colorado – After being named the No. 1 team in Division II on Monday, it was business as usual for the Roadrunners, who defeated the Colorado School of Mines 3-0 on the road. 
 
"I thought the team handled that really well," Head coach Jenny Glenn said. "We've been here in the past, so we know what it's like to have that kind of target on our backs."
 
MSU Denver won the match by a final of 25-19, 25-16 and 25-15. The win improved the Roadrunners record to 17-1 overall and 8-0 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Orediggers fall to 6-12 overall and 3-5 in the RMAC.
 
It was the second victory over the Orediggers this season, having defeating Mines 3-1 in Golden earlier this month. And it was the fifth straight victory overall against the Colorado School of Mines. 
 
The first set featured a feisty defensive effort by the Red and Blue. The squad piled up 29 digs to shut down the Orediggers offense and held them to a .122 hitting percentage. The RMAC's reigning Defensive Player of the Week Abbie McCrimmon led the way with seven digs in that first frame and finished the match with 13. 
 
"I'm really proud of our defense," Glenn said. "I thought we had a pretty good blocking match (seven total blocks) and as well as a feisty defense. I think we handled the unexpected plays really well and that was kind of the difference in the match."
 
MSU Denver's offense was running on all cylinders in the second set. They scorched the Orediggers defense racking up 15 kills on just 26 attempts hitting .462. Senior outside hitter Maddy Williams piled up four kills in that second set, finishing with six for the match. 
 
The third set was a one-sided affair, as MSU Denver outhit Mines .417 to .095. The Roadrunners hit .333 for the entire three-set match. 
 
Junior outside hitter Annika Helf led all hitters with 11 kills, hitting .391 while adding nine digs and three block assists. Senior outside hitter Riley Anderson recorded 10 kills in the match, reaching 200 kills for the fourth straight season. 
 
The setter distribution was incredible for the Roadrunners as they reached 12 kills by the right side of Alivia Huxoll and Williams, 12 kills by the middles of Kryssa Moerman and Alyssa Boyte and 21 kills from the left side of Anderson and Helf. 
 
The RMAC schedule continues for the No. 1 team in the nation, as they will face off against Adams State at home on Friday night. Then it will be a battle with the Thunderwolves of CSU Pueblo, also at home on Saturday afternoon.