by Andrew Kiser
The CMU volleyball team finished the regular season by being swept by the MSU-Denver Roadrunners on Tuesday and the Regis Rangers on Saturday.
“They played really well and we never stepped up and took away what they wanted to do,” head coach Dave Fleming said. “They were passing better and they ran a better offense and we never countered punch.”
However, with the RMAC tournament starting on Tuesday, the team is trying to forget how the regular season ended and are looking forward to a new season.
“Moving forward we have a new season basically starting Tuesday with the tournament,” libero Kricket Adleman said. “So I think that gives us a chance to bounce back from this and have a quick turnaround and start the new season, new mentality and go from there. I still think we’re good.”
The week began with the team playing against Metro, who beat them, 3-1, four days earlier at Brownson Arena. The match began with the Roadrunners taking the first set, 25-22. Metro had a .308 hitting percentage, while the Mavs had a .167.
The Mavs had their best hitting percentage of the match with .250, but the Roadrunners had a match-high of .371. Metro took the second set, 25-20.
In the third set, the Roadrunners took the lead early and never looked back. Regis won the final set, 25-17.
The Mavs’ Mackenzie Edwards finished with a double-double of 12 kills and 11 digs. Taylor Woods added 12 digs.
Then on Saturday the match against Regis was senior night for the team. The seniors honored for the night were setter Ali Svorinic, outside hitter Gabriela Dias and Adleman.
“I have enjoyed every single moment, honestly,” Adleman said. “I have a lot of good memories here, there is not a memory that I will enjoy the most because just being here in Brownson every weekend is what I will remember most.”
The final regular season match started with Regis ahead early. The Mavs were able to get a lead twice, but Regis came back each time. The Rangers proved to be too much for CMU, as Regis won 25-20.
The second set was not as nearly as close for the Mavs. After a 1-0 lead, the Mavs never led again as Regis took control of the set and won 25-15. The Rangers had a game-high hitting percentage of .321.
“We have to fight more and we talk about working hard and having fun, but I don’t know what their definition of fun is because that was not fun,” Fleming said.
In the third set, the Mavs and the Rangers battled back and forth. Both teams did not get a sizeable lead until after the score was tied 12-all. The Rangers rattled off two points before CMU called timeout.
After the timeout, the Rangers took a five point lead, but the Mavs were able to tie it 23-all. However, Regis scored the next two points and won the set 25-23. The Mavs finished the final set with seven kills and six errors, while having a game-low hitting percentage of .038.
“We have to be consistent,” Fleming said. “We can’t fight for three points and take two points off and then fight for another three. It is high level volleyball and we are trying to get to nationals.”
Four Mavs players finished with a team-high of seven kills, while Svorinic had 20 assists. Woods finished with a game-high of 10 digs.
The team finishes the regular with an 18-8 record and a conference record of 12-6.
The RMAC tournament is up next for the Mavs. The team will be on the road against Regis at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15.
