The Mavericks were able to pull out the sweep against the Orediggers and finished the regular season undefeated.
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) out played Colorado School of Mines (CSM) throughout the night and was able to secure the regular season Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) title.
Senior outside hitter Maddi Foutz started things off for the Mavericks as she put down the kill from freshman setter Sabrina VanDeList to get the first point of the game. Foutz even though she had two attack errors in the opening set made up for it with four kills.
The Mavericks went on a five point run after CSM tied the set at ten. Foutz, redshirt right side Ashton Reece and freshman outside hitter Sierra Hunt all had a kill a piece during that run. Julia Eiken and Rose Stuewe both had attack errors that allowed the Mavericks points.
The set was close fought but errors came back to haunt the Orediggers as they put up nine in the first set. The Mavericks went on to win the first set 25-19.
The Mavericks started the second set down in score but they knew that if they kept a positive energy and continued to work together that they could focus on the task at hand.
“When we were down we definitely relied on each other and kept a positive energy which helped us gain momentum,” VanDeList said.
CMU reset the score at six when a Taylor Hicken attack error let the Mavericks get back on track. A pair of CSM outside hitters then put their team back on top again and it was back and forth to the finish.
Sophomore middle blocker Savannah Spitzer did her part and helped her team get back in the set by having six kills in the second set alone.
VanDeList came into serve with a score of 19-20 and did her part from the service line. After Spitzer tied the game up at 20 with a big kill, VanDeList helped out her team big time as she had three service aces in a row. Her fourth serve was a service error but the point was regained from Foutz who scored a point with a kill.
Attack errors from Hunt and Spitzer would put the Orediggers within striking distance but Spitzer got her last kill of the set from VanDeList for the Mavericks.
The Mavericks played the back and forth game again in the third set as the score was close until the very end.
Foutz and Spitzer continued to get kills for their team. Spitzer had four in the final set and Foutz had five. Junior outside hitter Holly Schmidt checked into the game for the first time in the third set and had four kills of her own.
The game would go into extra point as CMU secured the win with a score of 26-24.
Foutz and Spitzer both finished the game with 13 kills a piece as Reece ended with seven. Spitzer also ended the night with three blocks. VanDeList continued to be a staple to the Mavericks this season by having 23 assists, three service aces and eight digs on the defensive side of things.
Going into the conference tournament the team is keeping a focused mindset knowing that they will be on their home court for the tournament but also knowing that the job is not done yet.
“We are going to keep a focused mindset and continue growing heading into the RMAC tournament. We are not done yet and are going to put in all of our effort to get better for the tourney,” VanDeList said.
The RMAC tournament will begin on Thursday April 8 in Brownson Arena.
