BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 7 MSU Denver volleyball team started its season with a workmanlike 3-0 victory Thursday over Central Washington in an opening-round matchup at the Western Washington Invitational.

Annika Helf hammered 10 kills and All-America honorable mention right-side hitter Maddy Williams had nine kills and eight blocks (one solo). Skyler Michael and Kryssa Moerman each had seven kills as the Roadrunners opened the post-Rylee Hladky-Ember Canty-Mikayla McClinton era with a 25-21, 25-22, 25-21 win.

True freshman middle blocker Alyssa Boyte starred in her official debut, with nine blocks. The Roadrunners had a 14-1 advantage in total blocks.

MSU Denver hit .324 for the match, with 42 kills and just eight errors in 105 attacks. The Roadrunners hit .406 in the final set.

Setter Amela Qershia had team highs of four service aces and 17 assists and Abbie McCrimmon added a team-best 14 digs.

MSU Denver has two matches on tap Friday, facing Sonoma State (Calif.) at 1:30 p.m. MDT and host Western Washington at 8 p.m. MDT.