@UNCBearsVB Rallies to Beat Grizzlies for Third Win in a Row

Saturday, October 27

Missoula, Mont.

7 pm

University of Northern Colorado

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Montana

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Northern Colorado

Montana

Photo by: Woody Myers

10/27/2018 10:47:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

Kortney Lockey scores a season-best in kills to help the comeback against the Grizzlies

By: Matthew Kushar, UNCBears.com

MISSOULA, Mont.- There was no panic on Northern Colorado volleyball's sideline Saturday night, as the team rallied to defeat Montana 3-2 [25-22, 15-25, 24-26, 25-20]. Kortney Lockey powered the Bears with 19 kills, while hitting .294 attack percentage.

"This is a match where it was good for us to battle through, with them playing very well," head coach Lyndsey Oates said. "We found a way, it wasn't pretty, but we found a way. Credit to them, they played very well defensively, as we could not get our offense going. I thought Kortney made a good change in the middle of the match."

Lockey posted a season-high in kills and also added a service ace and 14 digs. Brittany Lawrence had another strong night, scoring 10 kills with a .318 attack percentage, while recording two block assists.

Daisy Schultz feeding the UNC hitters all night, tallying 49 assists and getting the double-double with a career-best 16 digs.

"The things we were dependent on were tough serving and tough defense on the back row late is what won the match," Oates added. "We have to continue to use those as our foundation. That will keep us in any match."

UNC recorded 85 digs, with Taylor Els leading the way with 22 and three other Bears scoring double-digit digs. The Bears had eight service aces on the night, with five different players scoring an ace on the night.

UNC was out in front early in the first set, going on a 6-0 run with two kills from Muff and a service ace from Laura Katarzynski to lead 10-4. Montana did not give up in the set and would continue to score to keep the set interesting. The Grizzlies pulled within two at 22-20, but a pair of kills from McCartney would give UNC the set win, 25-22.

The second set was close to start out, with both teams countering each other's runs. Montana pulled away with a 5-1 run to lead 15-11. A 5-0 run from the Grizzlies would put the set out of reach and the Bears dropped the set 25-15 to tie the match.

In the third set, the Bears jumped out to an 8-3 lead with kills from Lauren Hinrichs and Lockey. Montana would keep scoring to stay within striking distance of UNC. The Grizzlies would tie the set at 20, but UNC would pull ahead by two with a solo block from Lockey. Montana would tie the set up again at 23, but Lockey would score a kill to get the Bears serving for match point. They could not convert and the Grizzlies again tied the match at 24, before taking the lead 25-24. Montana would win the set 26-24 on a solo block from Mykaela Hammer and go up 2-1 in the match.

The Bears would take control quickly in the fourth set with a 10-6 lead on kills from Lawrence and Lockey. UNC would win the set 25-20, with Jadyn McCartney scoring the Bears final two kills to secure the victory and tie the match at two apiece.

The fifth set was all UNC, as the Bears raced out to a 6-1 lead on kills from Hinrichs, Lawrence, and Lockey. UNC hit .286 in the set with nine kills, with Lockey and Lawrence each scoring four. UNC won the set 15-5 to win the match 3-2.

Game Notes

Northern Colorado won its 10^th consecutive match against Montana. The Bears have now won three matches in a row for the second time this season.
Three Bears recorded double-doubles against the Grizzlies. Kortney Lockey recorded her 11th double-double of the season, while Taylor Muff recorded her sixth and Daisy Schultz tallied her fifth.
Laura Katarzynski set a new career-high with three service aces.
Taylor Els scored 22 digs to extend her double-digit dig streak to 45 matches.