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Last Updated: Nov 5th, 2008 - 03:26:17 |
Metro's volleyball team posted back-to-back wins Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 after making quick work of conference foes UC-Colorado Springs and Colorado Christian in the final home games at the Auraria Events Center.
The Roadrunners (16-8, 14-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) have won their past eight of nine games dating back to Oct. 9. Their only loss came at the hands of RMAC leader and nationally ranked Nebraska-Kearney on Oct. 25.
The Events Center has been a successful place to play for the 'Runners, who won eight of nine games with the only loss coming to the Lopers in September.
In their first game of the weekend on Oct. 31, the home team used double-digit kills from outside hitters Amanda Cook (12) and Bri Morley (13) to cruise to a 3-1 win over the Mountain Lions. Junior middle block Lisa Jones contributed 11 kills while adding two blocks.
In the final home game of the season, Metro celebrated "parents night" instead of "senior night" because they do not carry a senior on the roster. So instead, parents, family members and coaches came in support of their athletes and flowers were given out to the players.
Without that fear that the team will lose important seniors to graduation, Metro head coach Debbie Hendricks can breathe a sigh of relief knowing all her players will return for next season.
"It's an excellent feeling to be honest with you," Hendricks said. "You know, besides the fact that we don't have any seniors, we're very young. It's had its growing pains for sure, but I think to look and say we're going to have everyone back next year and to do some of things we've already done this year, it's a really good sign of our promise for the future."
All who came witnessed a great showing from the Roadrunners, as 14 players got into the action in a 3-0 sweep of the Cougars.
"We really maintained a steady level of play," Hendricks said. "Tonight we just played well. We got everyone into the match, and everyone that went into the match played well. That's a great thing for our team and our confidence at this point in the season."
Metro freshman outside hitter Emily Greenhaigh led the 'Runners attack on CCU, posting six kills and 2.5 blocks in the victory.
"We have stayed together and played great as a team," Greenhaigh said.
Greenhaigh has made the transition from high school to Division II look easy, as she has been a consistent threat from the right side. But she has also contributed as a middle blocker learning the technique of setting.
"I've just been working hard and have been practicing my blocking and hitting," Greenhaigh said. "Serving is a little nerve-racking, but I have just been staying focused and getting better."
One issue that may arise out of having such a young team is the concern of strength and conditioning from the many freshmen who are playing quality minutes. The rigorous season could have an effect after 24 matches, not including exhibition matches.
"My body is a little bit tired," Greenhaigh said. "But I absolutely love the game. I'm not going anywhere, and I'm ready to win."
The RMAC tournament is only two weeks away and with one weekend to go in the regular season, the focus now becomes maintaining a high quality of volleyball when it comes to playing matches on three consecutive nights.
"One of the things we have to address is these three-match weekends both in the conference tournament and in the regional tournament," Hendricks said. "So we're putting in a little extra conditioning right now."
"We're just talking on how, when we get unsteady or when we lose our focus, that it can cost you a match in those three-match weekends. So we're just trying to learn and grow from everything that we're experiencing right now."
Nebraska-Kearney has locked up the No. 1 seed in the conference and will host the tournament that starts on Nov. 4. Metro currently stands as the No. 3 seed behind the Lopers and behind the winner of the top seed in the West Division.
To finish the regular season, Metro heads back to the road with matches against the Eagles of Chadron State Nov. 7 and then against the Orediggers of the Colorado School of Mines Nov. 8.
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