@UNCBearsVB Heads to Flagstaff for the Big Sky Volleyball Tournament

Thursday, November 19

Flagstaff, Ariz.

4:30 pm

University of Northern Colorado

Sacramento State

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Photo by: Dean Popejoy

11/17/2015 6:34:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

UNC faces Sacramento State in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament

By: Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

Match 30
Who: Sacramento State 25-6, 12-4
When: Thursday, November, 19 at 4:30 p.m.
Where: Flagstaff, Ariz., J.R. Rolle Activity Center

Game Notes: Northern Colorado | Sacramento State | Big Sky

Northern Colorado enters the Big Sky Tournament on a six match win streak after defeating Eastern Washington in five sets and Idaho in four, last week.

The Eaton duo of Kendra Cunningham and Kourtney Lockey, led the team on attack last week with a combined 59 kills. Cunningham recorded a double-double in each match with 16 kills and 15 digs vs EWU and 15 kills and 14 digs vs UI. Lockey had a double-double of her own, against the Vandals she had 12 kills and 10 digs.

While Cunningham and Lockey were controlling the pins, Emily O'Neil and Alex Klohen were scoring up the middle. The pair of underclassmen averaged a combined 4.89 digs per set last weekend, while also combining for 11 total blocks.

Setting up this balanced offensive attack was Ashley Guthrie, who eneded up earning Big Sky Player of the Week with her 106 assists and 36 digs over the two matches.

This week, UNC will look to claim it's fifth Big Sky Tournament bid and trip to the NCAA Tournament in seven years. Last year as the No. 3 seed UNC swept through the Tournament defeating Portland State, North Dakota and host Idaho State.

Two of the three players that were named to the All-Tournament team last year return for the Bears. Cunningham, who was the tournament MVP and Katie Champion are both back looking to repeat last year's feats.

Last time vs Sacramento State
Northern Colorado and Sacramento State only faced each other once this season, that was back on October 15th in Sacramento. The Hornets would defeat the Bears in that match 3-1. Lauren Kissell had herself a match wtih 26 kills and hit .469 in the match.

On the UNC side, the match really started Kortney Lockey's hot streak. She finished with a team high 15 kills with a .351 attack percentage and added in at the time a career high three total blocks. Teammate Kendra Cunningham also had a double-double in the match, with 13 kills and 14 digs.

Big Sky Tournament Success
UNC has had its fair share of success in the Big Sky Tournament recently making the championship match five of the past six year, coming away champions four of those times. The past two times the Bears have made it to the championship match, UNC has faced Idaho State, defeating the Bengals both times.

Steady As They Go
Both Meagan Garcia and Kendra Cunningham have been steady veterans or the Bears this season, both leading the team digs and kills, respectively. Cunningham is averaging 3.36 kills per set, and also adding in 2.67 digs. Meanwhile Garcia is averaging 4.68 digs per set. In conference play she is digging up 4.92 attacks a set.