DENVER, Colo. – The 13th-ranked University of West Florida volleyball team used a pair of dominant defensive efforts to take wins over Metro State and Angelo State on the second day of the Colorado Premier Challenge, improving to 5-3 on the year and 3-1 for the weekend.
 
With today's matches against MSU and ASU, which received votes in the latest AVCA coach poll, all eight of West Florida's opponents this year have been ranked or receiving votes. Additionally, UWF has played 10 consecutive matches against an opponent that is ranked or receiving votes dating back to last season, when the Argonauts played Palm Beach Atlantic and Florida Southern in the NCAA Tournament.
 
GAME 1: No. 13 UWF 3, MSU 1
The West Florida defense was as strong as could be against tournament hosts Metro State Denver on Friday morning, recording 14 blocks and holding the Lady Roadrunners to a .163 attack percentage in a four-set win.
 
Sadie Hough led all players with seven blocks, and Kierra Potts and Mackenzie Chrisman each added six. Chrisman also ranked second among all players in the tournament with 13 blocks after the first day of play, after recording seven blocks in Game 1 on Friday and adding six more in Game 2.
 
The senior also led UWF with 11 kills against MSU while hitting .333, while freshman JoDee Kovanda hit .571 with 8 kills and 3 blocks. Nadine Williams added 10 kills, tallying double-digit total for the fifth time this year, and Potts and Logan Kael each had three aces.
 
West Florida came out in dominant fashion, hitting .250 with only 3 errors in a 25-21 win in the first set. Again, the defense was just as impressive as the offense, with UWF totaling four blocks in the first 12 points of the match. The Argonauts defense kept going strong in the second set – a 25-18 win – by holding the Lady Roadrunners to a negative hitting percentage for much of the set.
 
After MSU bounced back in the third to cut the deficit to 2-1, West Florida's offense took over in the fourth and final frame, winning 25-23 while hitting .312 as a team.
 
GAME 2: No. 13 UWF 3, ASU 0
UWF turned in another dominant defensive performance in the second match of the day, sweeping Angelo State in straight sets. West Florida held the Rambelles to a .065 attack percentage for the match, which is the lowest opponent attack percentage this year for the Argos.
 
Jordyn Poppen stood out in the tournament finale, with 9 kills and a .333 hitting percentage, and Kael tallied 20 digs – the fourth time this year she has hit that mark. Again, the dual-setter approach worked for West Florida, as Brogan Wallin and Taylor Vaneekeren combined for 30 assists and no ball-handling errors.
 
Neither team got off to a strong offensive start, but UWF weathered the storm and took a 26-24 win. Afterward, West Florida's defense kicked into another gear and held ASU to a .000 hitting percentage with 10 attack errors in the second and a .023 hitting percentage with 9 more errors in the third.
 
West Florida is back home next weekend to host Spring Hill, Harding, and Lee at the Argo Bash on Friday and Saturday.