Arnold leads the way in Bears' Blue & Gold rout

GREELEY -- Junior Kelley Arnold (Berthoud) paced Northern Colorado Volleyball with eight kills on .389 hitting Saturday night in the Bears' 25-17, 25-11, 25-16 straight-games victory in their annual Blue & Gold alumni scrimmage.

Arnold also had five digs, four blocks and a pair of aces in a strong first performance of 2011. 

Senior Breanna Williams (Littleton) contributed seven kills for Northern Colorado in her first action since missing most of last season with a foot injury, and true-freshman Tambre Haddock (Longmont) had five kills and a dig, and junior Marissa Hughes (Huntington Beach, Calif.) led all players with 25 assists.

It was a balanced and workmanslike effort from a program that brings unprecedented expectations into its 2011 regular-season opener Friday, Aug. 26, against UNLV in this year's Hampton Inn & Suites Northern Colorado Classic.

The Bears earned Northern Colorado Athletics' first Big Sky Conference preseason favorite honor earlier this month, and they've been working hard all preseason to earn that distinction.

They more than looked the part Saturday night.

Julie Stephenson (2007-10) led the Alumni with nine kills in the scrimmage, and Kenzie Shreeve (2006-09) was right behind with eight kills.