GOLDEN, Colo. – Strong collegiate debut performances by a freshmen trio were not enough for the Midwestern State volleyball team Friday afternoon as the Mustangs dropped their season opener to Colorado Christian, 3-1 (25-12, 24-26, 25-21, 25-23), at the Oredigger Classic.

Freshman middle blocker Kiley Beaver was the lone Mustang to reach double-digit kills, finishing with 11 on a .423 hitting percentage, and leading the squad with four blocks. Freshman setter Hayden Blair finished with 35 assists, eight digs and four kills in running the MSU offense for the first time. Freshman defensive specialist Matti Dix recorded a team-best 14 digs in her first match wearing the Maroon and Gold.

In the first set, Colorado Christian opened up with an 8-1 run before going on to record a 25-12 win. The Cougars hit .407 for the set and limited the Mustangs to just a .037 attack percentage. 

Midwestern settled in during the second set as a back-and-forth battle took place with neither team able to gain more than a three-point cushion.

Trailing 22-19, a kill by senior outside hitter Hunter Porter sparked a 4-1 run to knot the set at 23-all. The Mustangs were able to close it out after a CCU attack error and a kill by Beaver gave the Mustangs a 26-24 second set win. For the set, Midwestern hit .372 with 19 kills and just three attack errors.

In the third set, three-straight kills for the Mustangs allowed them to open up an 11-7 cushion. However, the Cougars evened up the match before putting together a 7-1 spurt to take a 23-17 lead in the frame.

An ace by junior libero Madelyn Johnson pulled the Mustangs back within three at 24-21 but CCU ended the set off a kill by Connie Olson to take a 25-21 victory and 2-1 lead in the match.

Despite hitting just .027 in the fourth, the Mustangs were able to hang close to CCU through most of the set.

After the Cougars stretched their lead to five, the Mustangs mounted a 6-2 run to pull within 22-21. However, the Mustangs were not able to complete the comeback with Taylor Sturms capping off a 25-23 fourth set win for CCU to take the match.

Sturms led the Cougars with a double-double with 19 kills and 22 digs while Abby Bartalo paced CCU with 26 assists.

The Mustangs return to the court tonight for their second match of the Oredigger Classic vs. Pace (N.Y.) at 6:30 p.m.