Bears Defeat Idaho in Season Finale to Secure Third Seed in Tournament

Saturday, November 15

Moscow, Idaho

8 pm

University of Northern Colorado

19-9, 12-4

Idaho

15-13, 11-5

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Northern Colorado	25	13	25	25	3
Idaho	20	25	15	18	1

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

11/15/2014 10:54:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Northern Colorado will face Portland State in the first round of the Big Sky Conference Tournament

By: Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

Moscow, Idaho – In a key match with Idaho, Northern Colorado volleyball came out victorious, defeating the Vandals in four sets (25-20, 13-25, 25-15, 25-18). The win secured UNC the third seed in next week's Big Sky Conference Tournament.

The Bears defense came up large in each of the sets they earned a victory, holding Idaho to .111 or below. For the match overall, Idaho hit .152.

"We defended a good offensive team very well tonight, and that helped lead to a very balanced offensive attack tonight, and we kept them guessing all match," said head coach Lyndsey Oates.

Meagan Garcia led Northern Colorado with 23 digs, her 18th straight match with double-digit digs.

It was not just the defense that played well for the Bears on the night, but they featured also a balanced offensive attack. The big three of Andrea Spaustat, Kendra Cunningham and Brianna Strong combined for 36 of the teams 53 kills.

Cunningham led the team with 15 kills, followed by Strong's 11 and Spaustat's 10. Freshman Timarie Neymeyer added in nine kills of her own.

With such a balanced offense, Ashley Guthrie recorded 43 assists. She also added 13 digs for her sixth double-double of the year.

Idaho came out strong to start the match, taking an early 5-1 lead before UNC was able to claw its way back and finally take the lead at 13-12 and never looking back.

In the second set, Idaho had its offense clicking, going on to hit for .536 leaving the teams tied at one set apiece going to intermission.

Northern Colorado was able to respond to Idaho in the third and fourth set, holding them to -.065 and .098 hitting, respectively.

"We bounced back after the second set, being the more aggressive team the rest of the match," said Oates.

Northern Colorado will now move onto the Big Sky Conference championship in Pocatello, Idaho on Idaho State University's campus starting Thursday, Nov. 20. The Bears will play against the six seed Portland State at 1 p.m.