University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Thursday, November 6
Greeley, Colo.
7 pm
University of Northern Colorado
16-9, 9-4Big Sky
3
vs
0
Montana
6-19, 6-7Big Sky
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 12 | 23 | 21 | 0 |
| Northern Colorado | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Volleyball Clinches Conference Tournament Spot
11/6/2014 10:28:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
UNC Volleyball swept past Montana helping to lead to a berth in the Big Sky tournament
GREELEY—Northern Colorado women's volleyball extended its home winning streak to five Thursday night, sweeping past Montana (25-12, 25-23, 25-21). The win keeps the Bears (16-9, 9-4 Big Sky) in the hunt for the Big Sky North trailing North Dakota and Idaho by just one match in the standings.
The win with the combination of other results around the league the Bears clinched a spot in the Big Sky Conference Tournament, November 20-22. The site of the tournament is still to be determined; it will be hosted by the regular season champion.Â
UNC was led by solid defense and a balanced offensive attack to earn the win over the Griz.
For the ninth match in a row, Northern Colorado held its opponent under .200 hitting, keeping Montana (6-19, 6-7) to .061. This strong defense was led by five service aces, nine total blocks and 48 digs.
Three Bears had four or more blocks, Brianna Strong (five), Ashley Guthrie (four), and Andrea Spaustat (4). Meagan Garcia also extended her streak of matches with double-digit digs to 15.
The Bears offense had a nice balance during the match, getting a team-leading 11 kills from Strong, and nine each from Timarie Nymeyer and Katie Champion.
"Timarie and Katie are X-factors for us," said head coach Lyndsey Oates. "Katie had a very good match, especially from the service line."
Champion finished with two service aces, one shy of her career high.
Northern Colorado came out of the gates hot, hitting .481 in the first set while holding Montana to .071. That momentum carried over to the beginning of the second set when
the team started on an 8-2 run. Â Montana clawed its way back into the set, holding UNC to .021 hitting in the set. The early lead was enough to allow UNC to enter
intermission with a 2-0 lead.
"We played clean volleyball in that first set, passing well and playing good defense in the first set," Oates said.
The final set was a game of runs, featuring five ties and three lead changes. Montana started out fast, taking the first two points before Northern Colorado went on a 6-2 run.
The teams battled back and forth until the Bears took the final lead on a Spaustat kill at 20-19.
UNC will finish out its conference home slate Saturday night when it hosts Montana State at 7 p.m.Â
The win with the combination of other results around the league the Bears clinched a spot in the Big Sky Conference Tournament, November 20-22. The site of the tournament is still to be determined; it will be hosted by the regular season champion.Â
UNC was led by solid defense and a balanced offensive attack to earn the win over the Griz.
For the ninth match in a row, Northern Colorado held its opponent under .200 hitting, keeping Montana (6-19, 6-7) to .061. This strong defense was led by five service aces, nine total blocks and 48 digs.
Three Bears had four or more blocks, Brianna Strong (five), Ashley Guthrie (four), and Andrea Spaustat (4). Meagan Garcia also extended her streak of matches with double-digit digs to 15.
The Bears offense had a nice balance during the match, getting a team-leading 11 kills from Strong, and nine each from Timarie Nymeyer and Katie Champion.
"Timarie and Katie are X-factors for us," said head coach Lyndsey Oates. "Katie had a very good match, especially from the service line."
Champion finished with two service aces, one shy of her career high.
Northern Colorado came out of the gates hot, hitting .481 in the first set while holding Montana to .071. That momentum carried over to the beginning of the second set when
the team started on an 8-2 run. Â Montana clawed its way back into the set, holding UNC to .021 hitting in the set. The early lead was enough to allow UNC to enter
intermission with a 2-0 lead.
"We played clean volleyball in that first set, passing well and playing good defense in the first set," Oates said.
The final set was a game of runs, featuring five ties and three lead changes. Montana started out fast, taking the first two points before Northern Colorado went on a 6-2 run.
The teams battled back and forth until the Bears took the final lead on a Spaustat kill at 20-19.
UNC will finish out its conference home slate Saturday night when it hosts Montana State at 7 p.m.Â
Team Stats
UM
UNCO
Kills
27
42
Errors
21
18
Attempts
99
112
Hitting %
.061
.214
Points
42.0
56.0
Assists
27
36
Aces
5
5
Blocks
10.0
9.0
Game Leaders
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
9
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballTuesday, January 06
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Tuesday, December 23
