GOLDEN, Colo.— Thanks to a balanced attack, the Colorado Mesa University volleyball team overcame a slow start to post a 3-1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-17) decision over Lubbock Christian University to complete a 2-0 day at the Oredigger Volleyball Classic on Friday here at the Colorado School of Mines' Lockridge Arena.
 
After combining for 27 kills in a 3-set sweep of Fresno Pacific earlier in the day, middle blockers Kasie Gilfert and Camille Smith combined for 30 kills in the afternoon win over the Lady Chaparrals. 
 
Meanwhile, CMU outside hitters Maddi Foutz and Katie Scherr both fell just short of a double-double.
 
Gilfert had 16 kills on a .433 hitting percentage and was involved in four of the Mavs' five blocks while Smith finished with 14 kills.  Foutz had nine kills and 16 digs while Scherr came off the bench to tally 11 kills, nine digs and a pair of blocks while hitting .364.
 
They all relied on solid sets from Ara Norwood (30) and Samantha Ritter (25), who combined for 55 assists.
 
Defensively, sophomore Kerstin Layman had 20 digs to lead all players while helping to hold LCU (0-1) to a .175 team hitting percentage.
 
The Mavericks hit just .091 in the first set but finished at a .243 clip and were able to side out at more than 75 percent clip in both the third and fourth sets.
 
After a strong 8-3 finish in the first set that ran out of time, the Mavericks battled throughout a tight second frame.  They were down 20-19 and at risk of going two sets down but used a 5-0 run that saw Scherr record three kills to help even the match.
 
Gilfert and Smith then had monster third sets combining for 13 kills as CMU hit .419 in the frame that saw CMU lead throughout.
 
The fourth set was tighter and featured eight ties and three lead changes in the early stages.  The Mavericks then used a 3-0 run with kills by Maranda Theleus, Foutz and Smith to gain a 4-point (17-13) advantage, which they gradually doubled en-route to the match win, which was finished off by a Scherr kill.
 
The Mavericks will play two more matches on Saturday taking on 8^th-ranked Northern State at 2:30 p.m. before closing out the tournament at 5:30 p.m. against Dallas Baptist.