Preview: @UNCBearsVB hits the road for the NDSU Classic

Friday, September 1

Fargo, N.D.

11am

University of Northern Colorado

University of San Francisco

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

8/30/2017 5:53:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Game Notes

Northern Colorado plays three matches in Fargo

By: Matthew Kushar, UNCBears.com

GREELEY, Colo. - After a tough first weekend for Northern Colorado volleyball, the team will fly to Fargo, N.D. for the North Dakota State Classic.

UNC looks to avoid an 0-4 start, which has not occurred since 1988 and finished that season 26-15. The NDSU Classic is the beginning of a six-match road trip for Northern Colorado and they will not return to Bank of Colorado Arena until September 12 against Ole Miss.

The Bears have faced strong competition in their first three games against Central Florida, Duke, and Colorado State. The experience of facing these tough opponents will help the team to grow and better prepare them for conference matches. Strategies that did not work against high-level opponents can be corrected and ultimately improve the quality of play for the Bears. These defeats can allow the Bears an opportunity to understand that level of competition they expect to face in the postseason.

Northern Colorado does not have a lot of time to reflect on the loss to Colorado State as they are expected fly out Thursday and play a double-header on Friday against San Francisco and North Dakota State. The Bears will play one more match on Saturday against Florida A&M.

Assistant Coach John Critzer discussed how their preparation was the same for this weekend. "We're facing three quality opponents. They might not have the same combination of size and power, but they will be a challenge."

The previous and only meeting between UNC and San Francisco was on August 25, 2006, with the Dons sweeping the Bears in the opening match of the season. San Francisco enters the NDSU Classic with a 1-3 record, having lost its last three matches. The Dons started the season well after defeating Nevada 3-0. They would then lose to Fresno State 0-3, San Jose State 1-3, and then falling in a rematch with Nevada 1-3. Head Coach Frank Lavrisha is in his first season with the program after previously coaching at Regis University in Denver.

The Bears have more recent history with North Dakota State, with the two teams facing off last season in a five-set victory for UNC. The Bison sit at 1-2 on the season after being swept by Boise State and Arizona State in the Sun Devils Volleyball Classic. NDSU defeated familiar-foe Weber State in four sets. Senior Libero Mikaela Purnell was awarded Summit League Defensive Player of the Week with 61 dig, including 26 in the victory of Weber State. Purnell has a 23-game streak of consecutive double-digit digs.

Northern Colorado and Florida A&M met for the first time back in 2014 and the Bears swept the Rattlers. Florida A&M enters 2017 as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference favorite to win the Southern Division. 2016 MEAC Rookie of the Year Nicole Abreu will be key for the Rattlers from the outside hitter position. The roster for Florida A&M is young with only two Juniors and the rest being a mix of sophomores and freshman.

With only one practice on home court, the Bears looked quickly apply the lessons from the first games. "It usually comes down to passing and serving. We can change those things and we will be ready to compete with anyone. The UCF game showed we have plenty of talent for this team to be special."-Coach Critzer

Timeline
Northern Colorado will have a practice after they arrive in Fargo on Thursday. On Friday, they play San Francisco at 11 a.m. and later that evening, North Dakota State at 5 p.m. The match against Florida A&M will start at 11 a.m. Saturday morning.