Colorado Springs, Colo. – Adams State University gave it their all in a marathon match against UC-Colorado Springs (UCCS) but came up just short, falling 3-2 (27-25, 18-25, 28-26, 21-25, 13-15) in their final Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular-season match of the year Saturday afternoon.

The Grizzlies started strong, claiming a hard-fought first set 27-25, led by Cindy Garcia's efficient hitting and Anna Huggins' defensive grit. Garcia was dominant throughout the match, finishing with 21 kills and a .273 hitting percentage, while Huggins contributed 14 kills and 14 digs, showcasing her versatility.

Adams State stumbled in the second set, hitting at a .000 percentage as UCCS capitalized on errors to even the match with a convincing 25-18 win. The Mountain Lions' Payton Tompkins was a force, recording a match-high 24 kills on .321 hitting, consistently challenging the Grizzlies' defense.

The Grizzlies bounced back in a gripping third set, pushing through extended rallies to edge UCCS 28-26. The decisive moment came from Madeleine Benally's clutch serving, which secured consecutive service aces to clinch the frame.

Despite the momentum, Adams State couldn't sustain their rhythm in the fourth. UCCS found its groove, with Emily Pruitt and Rylee Pitts combining for crucial points at the net to win 25-21, forcing a decisive fifth set.

In the final set, the teams traded points in a tense back-and-forth battle. Garcia and Hadleigh Richardson spearheaded the Grizzlies' offense, but UCCS ultimately sealed the match with a 15-13 win, propelled by Tompkins' relentless attacks and Maylen Mitrovich's key defensive plays.

The loss drops Adams State to 11-16 on the season and 6-8 in RMAC play, while UCCS improves to 11-15 and 5-9 in conference action. The Grizzlies will wait in anticipation to determine whether they clinch the eighth seed in the RMAC Championship.