University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Thursday, October 23
Greeley, Colo.
7 pm
University of Northern Colorado
13-8, 6-3Big Sky
3
vs
0
Southern Utah
12-9, 4-5Big Sky
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Utah | 22 | 24 | 19 | 0 |
| Northern Colorado | 25 | 26 | 25 | 3 |
Photo by: Dean Popejoy
Volleyball Keeps On Rolling In Conference Play
10/23/2014 10:33:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
UNC volleyball won its third match in a row via sweep over Southern Utah
GREELEY— After winning six of its last seven matches, including a third sweep in a row, the Northern Colorado (13-8, 6-3 Big Sky) volleyball team continues to move up the Big Sky Conference standings. On Thursday night the Bears defeated Southern Utah in straight sets 25-22, 26-24, 25-19.
"I thought we played with a lot of confidence tonight. Southern Utah is a good team and to sweep them is very impressive," said head coach Lyndsey Oates. "We made the plays when we needed to. When it came to crunch time we made the aggressive confident play."
UNC's defense held its opponent below .200 hitting for the fourth straight game, keeping the Thunderbirds (12-9, 4-5 Big Sky) to .157 in the match. Junior defensive specialist Meagan Garcia led the Bears with 18 digs, her 11th straight match getting double-digit digs.
"Our goal is always to hold a team under .200 (hitting), and they are a good team so to do that speaks very well to our defense," Oates said.
Garcia was joined by fellow classmate outside hitter Kendra Cunningham with 13 digs. Cunningham added on 10 kills for her conference-leading 12th double-double of the year.
The front line for the Bears contributed in the defensive effort putting up 11 total blocks on the night, the first time getting to double-digit blocks since the Idaho State match (10/10). Senior middle blocker Andrea Spaustat led the team in blocks at eight.
It was not just the defense that had a solid night, but also the offense. Finishing with 44 kills and only 18 errors in 125 total attempts, Northern Colorado improved its hitting percentage each and every set starting at .140 in the first, then moving up to .205 in the second and in the final set hitting .289.
Senior middle blocker Brianna Strong led all Bears in kills on the night with 13.
Despite the sweep, it was a close match featuring 22 ties and 11 lead changes.
The first two sets of the match featured 17 of those 22 ties and 10 of the 11 lead changes. The first set was a back-and-forth affair until Cunningham sparked a 5-1 with a kill and then tough serving. Cunningham's serving proved to be pivotal in the second set, as well. With the Bears trailing 15-17, Cunningham sparked a 5-0 run to give them a control of the set.
Northern Colorado will try to finish its four-game home stand undefeated Saturday at 7 p.m. against Northern Arizona, who is coming off sweeping North Dakota on the road Thursday night.
"Northern Arizona is coming in playing well and confident. It will be nice to have them at home on Saturday," Oates said.
"I thought we played with a lot of confidence tonight. Southern Utah is a good team and to sweep them is very impressive," said head coach Lyndsey Oates. "We made the plays when we needed to. When it came to crunch time we made the aggressive confident play."
UNC's defense held its opponent below .200 hitting for the fourth straight game, keeping the Thunderbirds (12-9, 4-5 Big Sky) to .157 in the match. Junior defensive specialist Meagan Garcia led the Bears with 18 digs, her 11th straight match getting double-digit digs.
"Our goal is always to hold a team under .200 (hitting), and they are a good team so to do that speaks very well to our defense," Oates said.
Garcia was joined by fellow classmate outside hitter Kendra Cunningham with 13 digs. Cunningham added on 10 kills for her conference-leading 12th double-double of the year.
The front line for the Bears contributed in the defensive effort putting up 11 total blocks on the night, the first time getting to double-digit blocks since the Idaho State match (10/10). Senior middle blocker Andrea Spaustat led the team in blocks at eight.
It was not just the defense that had a solid night, but also the offense. Finishing with 44 kills and only 18 errors in 125 total attempts, Northern Colorado improved its hitting percentage each and every set starting at .140 in the first, then moving up to .205 in the second and in the final set hitting .289.
Senior middle blocker Brianna Strong led all Bears in kills on the night with 13.
Despite the sweep, it was a close match featuring 22 ties and 11 lead changes.
The first two sets of the match featured 17 of those 22 ties and 10 of the 11 lead changes. The first set was a back-and-forth affair until Cunningham sparked a 5-1 with a kill and then tough serving. Cunningham's serving proved to be pivotal in the second set, as well. With the Bears trailing 15-17, Cunningham sparked a 5-0 run to give them a control of the set.
Northern Colorado will try to finish its four-game home stand undefeated Saturday at 7 p.m. against Northern Arizona, who is coming off sweeping North Dakota on the road Thursday night.
"Northern Arizona is coming in playing well and confident. It will be nice to have them at home on Saturday," Oates said.
Team Stats
SUU
UNCO
Kills
44
44
Errors
23
18
Attempts
134
125
Hitting %
.157
.208
Points
49.0
58.0
Assists
41
42
Aces
0
3
Blocks
5.0
11.0
Game Leaders
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
8
Aces
1
Blocks
8
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballTuesday, January 06
Tuesday, December 23
Tuesday, December 23
Tuesday, December 23
