sports

Volleyball wins two of three away from home

Mountain Lions, Cowgirls and Thunderwolves, oh my

By Jennifer Hankins
jhankin4@mscd.edu

The Metro women's volleyball team went 2-1 in last week's road trip, falling to the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs 0-3, before regaining composure to beat New Mexico Highlands University and Colorado State University-Pueblo in consecutive five-game matches.

Metro junior outside hitter Stefanie Allison was named Player-of-the-Week in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference East Division on Monday for strong play in each of the 'Runners' three games. She is the second Metro player in 2005 to earn the honor. Sophomore Gabrielle Curtis was the first.

The Roadrunners visited the Mountain Lions on Thursday, Oct. 6. During the 6 p.m. game at the Lions' Den against CU-Colorado Springs, Sheena McLaughlin tallied 14 kills and 15 digs while Megan Wittenburg racked up eight kills and two blocks.

The Mountain Lions beat Metro for the first time since 1994.

In the three-game sweep, the Roadrunners lost by final scores of 26-30, 30-32 and 28-30. Although Metro was defeated by UCCS, the 'Runners held their heads high and prepared to face New Mexico Highlands in Las Vegas, N.M. Friday night.

The Cowgirls weren't ready for Sheena McLaughlin.

With 15 kills and 22 digs for the Roadrunners, McLaughlin helped secure the victory. Metro won game one 30-27, but Highlands came back in games two and three beating the 'Runners 25-30 and 28-30.

Metro came through in game four 30-26 before winning the deciding fifth game 15-12.

The good news for the Roadrunners is that Allison had 17 kills, three aces and one block; the bad news is that sophomore libero Taryn Drescher suffered a foot injury in the fourth game and was forced to leave the match.

"It is a tough place to play, but we followed our game plan and pulled it out," head coach Debbie Hendricks said. "I also think it shows a lot about our team with how they responded after Taryn went out. It was a good road win."

Following the win in New Mexico, Metro traveled north Saturday to face CSU-Pueblo. While in Pueblo, the Roadrunner women won their second consecutive 5-game match.

The 'Runners showed their resolve in yet another difficult RMAC match.

As they did against Highlands, the Roadrunners beat the Thunderwolves 30-26 in game one before losing games two and three 28-30 and 27-30. Once again Metro rallied in games four and five, winning 30-26 and 15-5.

Allison tallied a career-high 29 kills and 5 blocks while McLaughlin tied her career high 24 kills and also added 15 digs.

The Roadrunners hit .714 in the 5th game, with 11 kills and only one error, as they won their second consecutive five-game match. With this win, Metro improves to 12-6 overall, 8-3 in the RMAC.

The Roadrunners return to the Auraria Event Center Friday, Oct. 14 to face Western State. They play at home again on Saturday, Oct. 15 against Mesa State. Both conference matches take place at 7 p.m.