DENVER, CO- The Cougars headed to nearby Regis on Thursday evening to take on the Rangers in a non-conference pod play matchup. It was a tight affair throughout, but the hosts managed to snag a four-set victory on their home court. 

Sierra Crist put her team on top 7-5 with a kill, and Suzanna Conner slammed down a kill for a 10-9 advantage. The teams battled back and forth until Alissa Gregory-Obiedo tied things at 22-22 with a kill. The Rangers managed to rattle off the next three points as they claimed the set 25-22. 

Set two was a strong one for the Cougars as they went ahead 8-6 early off back-to-back aces from Gregory-Obiedo. Emily Darwin and Conner notched a block, and three points later they picked up another block for a 14-10 lead. Renee Phillips put her team on top 18-15, and one more block from Darwin and Crist saw CCU take the set 25-19. 

A Phillips kill put the Cougars ahead 4-1 early in what would be a marathon set three. Danielle Seabern notched an ace to make it 11-11, and a Kristina House ace later made it 23-18. The Rangers rallied to score six straight to make it 24-23, and the teams eventually sat at 27-27 after a Phillips kill. The teams continued to battle to 29-29, but consecutive blocks from Regis gave them the 31-29 set victory. 

The Rangers scored the first three points of the fourth set, but CCU eventually clawed their way back to 16 apiece after a Darwin and Conner block. Trailing 23-19, CCU rallied back with three straight points, and an Abby Hess ace eventually gave the Cougars set point at 25-24. The Rangers once again managed to close strong, scoring the final three points to steal the match 27-25 for the 3-1 victory. 

Phillips led her team with 15 kills, while Conner had 14 followed by eight from Crist. Kate Ringer dished out 23 assists, and Seabern notched 14. Darwin had a team high seven blocks, while House paced the defense with 15 digs. 

The Cougars will wrap up pod play at Regis with a tilt against CSU Pueblo on October 31 at 5 p.m. MDT.