RAPID CITY, S.D. — The MSU Denver volleyball team continued its strong run through the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference on Saturday afternoon, sweeping South Dakota Mines 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-17) at the King Center.
The Roadrunners improved to 10-6 overall and 5-1 in RMAC play with their second consecutive conference victory on the road. MSU Denver steadily pulled away from the Hardrockers after a tightly contested opening set, finishing the afternoon with its most efficient offensive performance of the match in the third set.
Hayden Liebsack led the Roadrunners offensively with 12 kills on 29 attacks while hitting .379. She also added three service aces, two blocks and 11 digs for a team-high 16 points. Brooke Gennerman and Kami Scott each contributed 10 kills, with Gennerman adding two aces and 12 digs and Scott chipping in three blocks.
Trynity Martin provided an efficient attack in the middle, recording four kills without an error on nine attempts to hit .444, while Mayah Pridgett added four kills and four blocks. Alivia Huxoll also finished with seven kills and two blocks.
GabriElle Brewer directed the MSU Denver offense with 22 assists, while Addi Schreurs added 13 assists. Mia Accomazzo anchored the defensive effort with a team-high 16 digs, followed by Gennerman's 12 and Liebsack's 11.
The opening set featured the tightest battle of the afternoon. The Roadrunners and Hardrockers exchanged runs before MSU Denver secured a 25-23 victory to take the early advantage.
South Dakota Mines again kept the second set competitive, but the Roadrunners closed it out 25-20 to move within one set of the sweep.
MSU Denver then put the match away with its strongest offensive showing of the day. The Roadrunners hit .395 in the third set, recording 18 kills against just three errors, while limiting South Dakota Mines to a .265 hitting percentage. MSU Denver finished the match hitting .261 as a team compared with .173 for the Hardrockers.
The Roadrunners also held an advantage at the service line, recording seven aces, while their blocking effort produced 13 total blocks. South Dakota Mines finished with no service aces and 12 total blocks.
With the victory, MSU Denver continues its strong start to RMAC play at 5-1 and earns back-to-back conference wins on the road. The Roadrunners will return home next weekend to continue RMAC play.
