@UNCBearsVB Travels for Second Match Against Vandals, Eagles

Friday, October 19

Moscow, Idaho

8 pm

University of Northern Colorado

Idaho

Photo by: Woody Myers

10/17/2018 12:52:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Game Notes

Northern Colorado will begin a four-match road trip on Friday

By: Matthew Kushar, UNCBears.com

Northern Colorado volleyball will be traveling for the next two weeks, beginning with matches against Idaho and Eastern Washington this week.

UNC had a successful weekend at home, defeating Southern Utah, 3-1, behind 10 service aces. The Bears followed it up with a battle against Northern Arizona, winning in five sets to improve the team's record to 5-3 in the Big Sky. Against the Lumberjacks, UNC scored a season-best 75 kills, with five players in double-digits.

Taylor Els was named Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week after recording 6.44 digs per set in nine total sets played. It was Els second defensive award of the season after sharing the honor two weeks ago. Els recorded a career-best 36 digs against Northern Arizona, while helping UNC's defense hold both NAU and SUU to low attack percentages. The Lumberjacks were held to a .195 percentage and the Thunderbids finished with a .197 figure.

UNC is currently fourth in the Big Sky in opponent hitting percentage, keeping other teams to a 0.191 average.

The offense for UNC continues to be a force to be reckoned with, leading the Big Sky in kills per set (13.49), assists per set (12.82), and team attacks per set (37.92). The Bears had a season-high of 199 total attacks against NAU.

Daisy Schultz was an instrumental part of the Bears success over the weekend, averaging 11.89 assists per set, including a career-best 63 against NAU. Schultz added 44 assists against SUU and posted a season-best five service aces. In both wins, Schultz finished with a double-double, recording 11 digs against NAU and 12 against SUU.

Taylor Muff had an all-around impressive weekend, ranking second on the team in both kills per set (3.56) and digs per set (3.89). Muff was tied with Schultz with five service aces in the two matches combined.

Scouting the Vandals
The Vandals have a 7-2 record in the Big Sky after being selected to win the conference in the preseason poll. Idaho is currently on a five-match win streak after dropping matches against Weber State (1-3) and Idaho State(1-3). On Tuesday night, the Vandals swept rival Eastern Washington to move into first place in the conference. Idaho attacks from several different positions, with three players averaging more than three kills per set. Senior outside hitter Sarah Sharp(3.22), senior middle blocker Reece Carman (3.17), and freshman outside hitter Kaela Straw(3.41). Idaho leads the conference with a .213 attack percentage. At the net, the Vandals have also been strong with redshirt freshman middle blocker Nikki Ball and senior middle blocker DeVonne Ryter averaging 1.29 and 1.08 blocks per set respectively.

Northern Colorado was swept by Idaho in the conference opener last month in Greeley. Lauren Hinrichs led the Bears with nine kills.

Scouting the Eagles
The Eagles have an 8-13 overall record on the season, but are 0-9 in conference matches this season. They went 0-3 on its recent road trip, after being swept by rival Idaho on Tuesday most recently. Sophomore outside hitter MaKenna Davis has stepped up in conference play, averaging 2.24 kills per set in nine matches. Davis has recorded a .167 attack percentage in Big Sky matches and also leads the team with 0.24 aces per set, scoring seven total. Davis is also third on the team with 2.66 digs per set. Davis is from Parker, Colorado. Sophomore middle blocker Kamille Langford leads the defense at the net for Eastern Washington, recording 0.97 blocks per set. Against Montana State, Langford recorded nine blocks, with one solo and eight assists.

UNC swept Eastern Washington last month in Greeley, with three Bears scoring double-digit kills. Taylor Muff, Kortney Lockey, and Lauren Hinrichs all recorded 11 kills, with Muff and Lockey recording 13 and 15 digs respectively.

Following the Bears
Northern Colorado will face Idaho on Friday, October 19^th at 8 P.M.(MT) and travel to play Eastern Washington on Saturday, October 20^th at 7 P.M. Both matches can be streamed live on PlutoTV. Live stats will be provided by GoVandals.com and GoEags.com for each match respectively. Follow the matches live on Twitter with @UNCBearsVB.