Aggies end skid with win over Regis

     DENVER, Colo. (Sept. 4) - Cameron ended a season-opening six match losing streak on Saturday, topping regional foe Regis University in the Bronze Division semifinals at the Colorado Premier Challenge.
     Coach Kim Vinson's squad defeated the Rangers in four sets, 30-24, 26-30, 30-19, 31-29, before losing to 21st-ranked St. Edward's University in the Bronze Division finals on the campus of Metro State in downtown Denver.
     The effort pushed the Aggies' record to 1-7 on the season, which includes six losses to teams that were either ranked or received votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason Top 25 poll.
     Cameron started strong in the first set of the matchup with Regis. The Aggies posted a .333 team hitting percentage in the frame while limiting the Rangers to a .194 mark. Regis finished the match with seven more kills than the Aggies (69 to 62), but Cameron's defense tallied seven blocks while Regis committed 35 total attack errors. Cameron also posted 11 service aces and 66 digs in the match.
     After dropping the second set, the Aggies cruised to an easy win in the third frame. A late rally by the Rangers in the fourth set threatened to send the match to a fifth and deciding game, but the Aggies capitalized on Regis errors down the stretch to close out the match.
     Cameron looked to be on its way to another victory in the second match, holding a comfortable lead throughout much of the first set against St. Edward's. But the Hilltoppers rallied to take first set 33-31 and took advantage of the momentum shift to secure an easy win. St. Edward's won in straight sets, 33-31, 30-19 and 30-13, denying Cameron its third Bronze Division title in the past four years at the Premier Challenge.
     Saturday's contests brought an end to a difficult road swing to open the season for the Aggies. Cameron returns home this week to host the annual Coca-Cola Classic, which features five matches over two days at Cameron's Aggie Gym. Cameron will host Lone Star Conference rival West Texas A&M on Friday at 7 p.m., before facing Missouri Southern on Saturday at noon.
     As part of the event, the Aggies will team with local medical personnel to help promote awareness of Type 1 diabetes, formerly known as juvenile diabetes, which strikes thousands of young people each year. Information will be made available outlining the warning signs of Type 1 diabetes and what individuals can do to manage and cope with the disease.