GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs sophomore middle blocker Taylor Hamilton led the Mountain Lions with 13 kills and four blocks as UCCS (14-7, 9-3 RMAC) played close with Colorado Mesa (11-9, 9-3 RMAC) in all four sets, but the Mavericks claimed the 3-1 victory in Brownson Arena. Scores went 19-25, 25-20, 23-25 and 23-25 for Colorado Mesa.

After the Mavericks took the first set 25-19, the Mountain Lions used a 10-2 rally to build a 15-7 lead in the second set. UCCS led by at least four points for the rest of the set and hit .357 in the period to even the match at 1-1. Miranda Sanchez hit a perfect set with a four-of-four performance while Hamilton went four-of-five for an .800 hitting percentage. Kim Catlett, Cassidy Bush and Hamilton also finished with multiple blocks in the set.

The Mountain Lions took a 7-2 lead in the third set before Colorado Mesa scored nine of the next 10 points to take an 11-8 lead against UCCS. The Mountain Lions tied the set at 21-21 by capitalizing on the Maverick errors on a 5-1 run, but Colorado Mesa recorded four kills to regain the match lead with a 25-23 decision in the third set.

Catlett and Hamilton opened the fourth set with a block, but Colorado Mesa put together a 10-1 run to open a 10-2 lead in the fourth set. A 7-1 Mountain Lion run pulled UCCS to within a point at 17-16, and UCCS held off match point twice before Colorado Mesa secured the 3-1 match decision with another 25-23 set.

Hamilton extended her run of double-digit kills to four matches tonight and has hit .350 of better in nine matches this season. Bush and Alyssa Brinton both added 10 kills. Brinton's 10 kills were the most for her this season, and she led UCCS with 15 digs on defense. Morgan Evans made 36 of the Mountain Lions' 44 assists.

UCCS will remain on the road for a 7 p.m., match on Saturday at Westminster in Salt Lake City. The Griffins (5-15, 2-10 RMAC) fell 3-1 to MSU Denver tonight.