DENVER  It was a tall task, taking on the No. 1 team in the nation on its home court, and though the Mountaineers improved each set it was host Metropolitan State University Denver with the 3-0 victory Friday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women's volleyball action.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Metro State Denver def. Western, 3-0 (25-9, 25-14, 25-17)
Records: Western 3-19 (2-13 RMAC), MSU Denver 22-1 (15-0)
Location: Auraria Event Center, Denver, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Western's best set was the third set, especially so after rallying back from an early 7-0 Roadrunner streak that pushed the Mountaineer deficit to 11-2.
• A kill by Caroline Parker ended the MSU Denver run, and soon after Western put together its first run in the night of more than two points. Randi Wellhoefer's solo block started the three-point string followed by an Emily Mangone service ace and then a kill by Maggie Olson that drew the Mountaineers within six, at 14-8.
• Western was not able to close the gap after that spurt though, playing nearly even with the Roadrunners the rest of way but eventually succumbing to the home team to end the match.
• The Mountaineers had difficulty breaking from the gate in the opening two sets as MSU Denver raced out to a 5-0 lead in the first set and then a 4-0 lead in the second.
• The only tie of the night came early in the third on an Olson kill that knotted the score at 1-1.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS

• Mangone and Parker led the attack for Western, notching eight and six kills, respectively.
• Overall, though, MSU Denver held much of the Mountaineer attack in check throughout the three sets, allowing Western to finish the night with a .000 hitting percentage.
• Part of that figure were the 18 total blocks by Roadrunner players that stalled the Mountaineer attack.
• Lexi Wilmoth finished with a team high 14 set assists, and defensively it was Elizabeth Rupprecht and Mangone coming up with seven digs apiece.

UP NEXT
Western will travel across town to the Lakeland suburb of Denver for a Saturday RMAC match at Colorado Christian University.