ThunderWolves don't give ground easily, run match to four sets.

PUEBLO, Colo. (GoThunderWolves.com - Oct. 15, 2010) - In a match that was much closer than the score indicates, CSU-Pueblo played a strong match against 18th-ranked Metro State Friday, falling in four sets, 25-21, 17-25, 20-25 and 23-25.

CSU-Pueblo stormed out of the gate in the first set, building a 9-3 lead while Metro State found its bearings, committing three attack errors and a service error before it found its footing.  The result was a run by the Roadrunners, who surged to a 12-10 lead.

But the Pack held strong, getting timely kills and using Metro State errors to its advantage.  The result was a 25-21 win CSU-Pueblo, but the success would be short-lived.

The Roadrunners cruised in the second set, taking an 11-5 lead to open the set, and mental errors by the ThunderWolves allowed Metro State to pull away for the 25-17 win.  The kept it up in the third set as defense defined the Roadrunners' effort, undoing an effective Pack attack with great back row play to take the two sets to one lead.

CSU-Pueblo was just inches away from forcing a fifth set, coming back to play the set to 23 all.  But Metro State eventually prevailed 25-23 to take the set.

The defensive play by the ThunderWolves was superb in light of the loss, as Ashley Michel (Jr., Brighton, Colo.) came just two digs away from setting a school record for most digs in a match with 32 Friday.

For CSU-Pueblo, it marked the 12th straight loss it has suffered to Metro State, dating back to 1999, and only the first time since 2006 that the Pack had managed to win at least a set from the Roadrunners. 

The ThunderWolves will have one last chance to pull out a win this weekend as highly-touted Regis comes to town Saturday night.