Northern Colorado Volleyball Fights Back In 3-2 Loss To Eastern Washington
Sept. 28, 2007
CHENEY, Wash.- The University of Northern Colorado's volleyball team (4-11, 2-2 Big Sky) put up a great effort in coming back from a 2-1 deficit but ultimately fell to Eastern Washington (5-9, 4-1 Big Sky) in five games (30-23, 23-30, 21-30, 30-27, 10-15) on Thursday, Sept. 27 in Cheney, Wash.
The Bears were led by a strong defensive effort from sophomores Taylor Smith and Allison Raguse. Raguse led the team with 12 blocks assists, while Smith chipped in 11 blocks of her own. Raguse's 12 block assists is just behind Erica Wymore's school-record 14 from 1992. Smith also tallied nine kills for Northern Colorado. Sophomore Kenzie Shreeve led the attack with a team-best 12 kills. Freshman Ashley Lichtenberg continued her strong play with 10 kills on a .207 hitting percentage (10-4-29). NC had three players reached double figures in digs led by senior Abby Mayne's 21. Dulcie Stone had a strong all-around effort with nine kills, 16 digs and seven block assists. Breanna VanDerMost totaled 10 digs for Northern Colorado. Both of the Bears setters had 20+ assists. Freshman Lindsey McDaniel led the team with 22 assists and Lauren Carter chipped in 21 helpers.
NC, after falling behind early in the first game at 10-5, fought back and went on an 11-3 run to take the lead. NC would not trail for the rest of the game and extended the lead to seven on an Eagles' attack. Northern Colorado finished the game on a 4-1 run capped off by Shreeve's kill.
The second game was close throughout until the Eagles were able to pull away and take a 18-17 lead on an NC attack error. EWU would continue the run and end the game on a 12-6 run to take the second game 30-23.
The third game was competitive to start and was knotted at seven before a 10-4 Eagles run allowed the home team to open up a six-point lead. EWU would end up taking that one going away at 30-21.
Facing an elimination game in the fourth game, NC came out with great determination and held an early 10-4 lead. The Eagles closed to within four at 15-11 before Raguse put a kill down to stop the momentum. EWU made one more run and closed to within one before Stone's kill gave NC a two-point lead at 28-26. Shreeve closed the game out with a kill to give Northern Colorado the 30-27 victory and force a pivitol fifth game.
The fifth game started all Eagles and the home team held a 7-2 lead before NC closed to within two at 10-8. EWU stood strong though and finished the match off on a 5-2 run.
"There is no excuse to lose this type of match at this point of the season," Lyndsey Benson commented. "We should of controlled this match. We are disappointed in this loss on the road and hope it doesn't come back to hurt us too much when it comes Big Sky Tournament time."
Northern Colorado continues the conference road swing with a trip to Portland, Ore. to take on current Big Sky frontrunner Portland State (10-4, 4-0 Big Sky) on Saturday, Sept. 29.
