Volleyball Starts Four Match Home Stand

Thursday, October 16

Greeley, Colo.

7 pm

University of Northern Colorado

Sacramento State

10/14/2014 1:59:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

The Bears return home to host Sacramento State and North Dakota in volleyball

By: Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

Northern Colorado volleyball returns home to start a four game home stand, begining with Sacramento State and North Dakota.

Northern Colorado Notes |Big Sky| Sacramento State |North Dakota

Match 19
Who: Sacramento State 5-16, 0-6 Big Sky
When: Thursday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Greeley, Colo.; Butler-Hancock
All-Time Series: Northern Colorado 12-9 (Last, November 11, 2013 UNC, 3-0)

*Weld County Food Bank Night. Fans and Students that bring in a canned good or other non-perishable item will receive a free UNC Drawstring Backpack

Match 20
Who: North Dakota 17-6, 5-1 Big Sky
When: Saturday, October 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Greeley, Colo.; Butler-Hancock
All-Time Series: Northern Colorado 30-3 (Last, November 8, 2013 UNC, 3-1)

*Dig Pink Match, sponsored by Banner NCMC. Tickets are buy one get one free for all Banner Health employees with their staff ID. Dig Pink t-shirts will be available for sale ($10 each) and donations will be accepted, goingdirectly toward the Breast Center at Banner North Colorado Medical Center.

Recaping Last Week

* The Bears finished their four match road trip at 3-1 overall, splitting matches vs Idaho State and Weber State.

* In the first match of the weekend UNC defeated Idaho State in a five set thriller, first time defeating ISU since the Big Sky Championship match in 2012.

* The Bears held both opponents under .200 hitting

* Kendra Cunnningham continues to be a double-double machine recording her 10th and 11th of the season.

* Meagan Garcia tied a career high 26 digs against Idaho State

Previewing Sacramento State

* Sacramento State is still seeking their first conference victory of the season

* The Hornets were picked to finish eighth in the conference.

* Sac. State is one of the leading serving teams in the nation, ranked 19th overall in total service aces

Previewing North Dakota

* North Dakota is currently leading the North Divsion at 5-1, but coming off their first conference loss to Idaho State last weekend

* UND was picked fourth in the preseason poll, one spot ahead of the Bears

* North Dakota is in the top 30 in opponent hitting percentage, digs per set, and blocks per set.

A Bear to Deal With

* Northern Colorado returns their top three kills leaders from last year in outside hitter Kendra Cunningham (359), middle blocker Brianna Strong (329), and middle blocker Andrea Spaustat (310).

* So far in the 2014 season Strong (146), Spaustat (184), and Cunningham (222) have accounted for 58.6% of the teams kills.

No Sophomore Setting Slump

* Sophomore setter Ashley Guthrie returns after a steller freshman year, shooting into the Northern Colorado Division I record books currently sitting 4th all time in sets with 1967 assists.

* There has been no sign of a sophomore slump for Guthrie first on the team in hitting at .351, along with her 690 total assits, and 99 kills, and 16 service aces.

* It is not just her offense, but defense that has helped her this season with 40 blocks, most coming at pivitoal moments of matches, and 120 digs.

Freshman Trio

* The freshman trio of Alex Klohn, Kim Weissmann, and Timarie Nymyer have quickly found roles on the team.

* The trio has helped bring balance to the Bears offense, to go along with Cunningham, Spaustat, and Strong.

* Klohn has earned the start in seven matches this year leading the way with her blocking ability, 30 total on the year, including seven of them coming in her first ever match against Eastern Illinois. She is tied for the team lead in solo blocks at 4 with Andrea Spaustat.

* Weissmann started off coming off the bench due to her excellent serving, 8 aces on the year,and soon found a perminent spot in the rotation after her seven kill preformance against Wisconsin. Her career high in kills is 15 vs Idaho.

* Nymyer has worked her way into the starting line-up with her offensive ability, recording her first career kill against Colorado State. She earned her first careeer start against Long Beach State, and has reset her career record in kills the past five matches; it now sits at 19. She was the first of two Bears to hit above .700 in a match this year, doing it against Eastern Washington. (.720).

Records Breakers

* Andrea Spaustat took over the school's Division I record in total blocks, passing Lizzy Rhoads with 349, she now sits at 361. She also now sits 4th all-time in the school's Divsion I solo blocks at 32.

* Spaustat also moved up to 3rd in the school's Division I record book for kills passing Ashley Lichenberg. She also is second in service aces and points.

* Setter Ashley Guthrie passed Linnea Killsgaard for fourth all time in Northern Colorado's Division I history.

* Brianna Strong passed Kelley Arnold in both block assists and total blocks, now sitting 5th overall in both catagories

Records Watch

* Andrea Spaustat has two records in her sight in career aces and solo blocks. She is five aces away from Daniel Angus 95 aces. Kelly Arnold's 37 career solo blocks is in Spaustats sight, for 3rd all-time.

* Brianna Strong currently stands second overall in the schools Division I history for solo blocks with 43, one behind Lizzy Rhoads for the record.

* Setter Ashley Guthrie is 37 assists away from becoming the schools 9th player all time to have 2,000 assists in a career.

Getting Offensive
* The Bears are second the Big Sky in kills per set at 13.27 overall, and leads the conference in conference matches at 14.32
* Ashley Guthrie is second in the conference with a .351 hitting percentage.
* Northern Colorado had two players hit above .700 in two straight matches, first Timarie Neymyer (.720) against Eastern Washington and then Andrea Spaustat (.733) against Montana State

A Look Ahead
* Northern Colorado continues their four match home stand against Southern Utah and Northern Arizona.
* SUU and NAU visit Weber State and Idaho State this weekend. SUU is cureently .500 in conference play, while NAU is tied for the lead in the South Divison at 5-1 with Idaho State.