DENVER - Despite the offense having an off-night, the service and blocking games took center stage for the No. 1-ranked volleyball team in the 3-0 victory over cross-town rivals Regis University. 
 
The win improved the Roadrunners record to 20-1 overall, while the Rangers fell to 11-10 on the season. The contest was a non-conference match between the two RMAC foes, as MSU Denver is hosting both Regis and Colorado Mesa in pod play. 
 
"It was a great match, I think they take away shots that have worked for us, so it was an adjustment," Head coach Jenny Glenn said.  "Our offensive numbers were probably one of the lowest we hit this season, so it was really foreseeing our offense to find different shots and make good decisions." 
 
The Roadrunners hit well below their season average in hitting percentage (.317) against the Rangers hitting just .112 with 21 attack errors. 

But the blocking came up big for MSU Denver, as they racked up eight total blocks against the Rangers and held them to a -.020 hitting percentage in the three-set match. Maddy Williams, Riley Anderson and Alyssa Boyte all had solo blocks. 
 
The Roadrunners, who lead the RMAC in service aces per set (1.88), was once again money from that service line getting nine service aces to fall, including three from Annika Helf. 
 
"I did think our serving game was really good tonight," Glenn said. "The last few matches we've really elevated in that space, so we put a lot of pressure on teams and that's kind of what made us jump out to a blazing start in those sets."
 
The Roadrunners came out flying in the first set winning 25-14. Helf smashed her way to six kills while dropping in three service aces. But despite the sweep, the Rangers battled tough in the next two sets, 25-21 and 25-18, which is the reason Coach Glenn appreciates this pod play format, so her team can learn some lessons as they head toward the RMAC playoffs.
 
"I feel like we learned actually a lot from this match, more than some of the other matches we've played that were even closer scores," Glenn said. "(Regis) is a well-coached team, and that's evident, they are making adjustments throughout the course of the match. I thought they've made some really good adjustments from the first set to the second and trying different things, and it forced us to respond to all that list of things on what teams will do to try and slow an offense."
 
The No. 1 team in the nation will have an off-night tomorrow night and will be back in action at the Auraria Event Center on Saturday afternoon and take on No. 16 Colorado Mesa, a team they beat 3-1 back on September 27.