DENVER – The No. 1-seeded MSU Denver volleyball team began its postseason run Tuesday night, sweeping No. 8-seeded Adams State 3-0 in the RMAC Tournament quarterfinals at the Auraria Event Center. The Roadrunners won by set scores of 25-21, 25-18 and 25-19 to extend their winning streak to 13 consecutive matches and record their fourth straight sweep.
With the victory, MSU Denver advances to Friday's semifinals and will host the remainder of the RMAC Tournament, including Saturday's championship match. The Roadrunners will face No. 5-seeded South Dakota Mines at 5 p.m. Friday. They will also host the other semifinal match between Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Mesa at 7:30 p.m.
MSU Denver used a balanced offensive attack and a strong presence at the net to control the match, finishing with 41 kills while hitting .216. Hayden Liebsack led the Roadrunners with 11 kills, adding a career-high four block assists and an ace. Alivia Huxoll followed with nine kills while hitting .412, and Kami Scott and Mayah Pridgett each contributed seven kills. Pridgett was especially efficient, recording her seven kills without an error on 14 attempts for a .500 hitting percentage.
The Roadrunners established control in the opening set, overcoming an early back-and-forth stretch to take the first 25-21. MSU Denver then put together its strongest offensive set in the second, totaling 14 kills with just three errors on 33 attempts to hit .333 and take a 2-0 lead with a 25-18 win.
Adams State remained competitive in the third, but the Roadrunners matched the Grizzlies with 14 kills and closed out the sweep, 25-19.
MSU Denver also made its presence felt defensively at the net. Trynity Martin led the effort with one solo block and six block assists, while Liebsack added four block assists for a career high. The Roadrunners totaled 17 blocks assists and one solo block, limiting Adams State to an .085 hitting percentage.
Megan Hagar stepped into the libero role with Mia Accomazzo sidelined and made an impact across the back row, finishing with 13 digs. Brooke Gennerman added 14 digs, while Kahlia Maiava contributed nine digs. GabriElle Brewer led the setting effort with 19 assists, and Maiava added 14.
The Roadrunners now turn their attention to Friday's semifinal matchup against South Dakota Mines, with a spot in Saturday's RMAC Tournament championship match on the line. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Auraria Event Center.
