Senior Night for @UNCBearsVB on Thursday Against Vikings

Thursday, November 15

Greeley, Colo.

7 pm

University of Northern Colorado

Portland State

Buy Tickets

11/13/2018 2:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Game Notes

Northern Colorado will close out the the regular season with a home and away match this weekend

By: Matthew Kushar, UNCBears.com

Northern Colorado volleyball will close out the regular season this week, starting with the home finale on Thursday against Portland State. The Bears will then take their final conference road trip to face Sacramento State on Saturday. UNC will host the Big Sky tournament next week and secured their spot last week with Portland State's loss on Thursday night.

The final home match of the regular season will be senior night for three Bears. Kortney Lockey, Kayla Uyemura, and Brittany Lawrence will be honored pre-match for their contributions to the UNC volleyball program.

Northern Colorado split road matches last weekend. UNC defeated Southern Utah in five sets on Friday night, then dropped its match the next night against Northern Arizona in five sets. The Bears rallied in the fifth set against Southern Utah to secure the win. Against NAU, the two teams battled all match, but NAU was able to play their best in the final set to get the win.

UNC ranks first in the Big Sky conference with 37.86 team attacks per set. The team is second in the conference with 13.36 kills per set and 12.65 assists per set.

Kortney Lockey scored a season-high 24 kills against the Lumberjacks, also tying for her second-best total in her career. Lockey recorded 3.70 kills per set over the weekend and had a solid, .267 attack percentage. Lockey also was second on the team, with 2.90 digs per set. In both matches, Lockey recorded a double-doubles and now has tallied one in five consecutive matches, while having 13 total this season. Lockey leads the team with 324 kills this season for a 3.38 kills per set average.

Jadyn McCartney was an efficient scorer against SUU and NAU, hitting .351 with 24 kills to only four errors in 57 total attempts. Brittany Lawrence also was efficient in the middle, recording a .327 percentage, with 23 kills and seven errors in 49 total attempts.

The Bears are second in the conference with 16.74 digs per set, while ranking third in opponents hitting percentage, allowing a 0.192 figure. Taylor Els continues to be the staple of the Bears defense. Over the weekend, Els averaged 5.80 digs per set in 10 total sets. Els recorded 29 digs in each of the UNC matches, while adding four assists in the two matches. Els is first in the conference and 10^th in the nation with 5.58 digs per set.

Scouting the Vikings
Portland State has a 4-12 record in conference matches and 5-23 overall this season. The Vikings were swept this past weekend by both Idaho State and Weber State on the road. Portland State will close out it regular season at home against Sacramento State Tuesday before traveling to Greeley for its final regular season finale. The Vikings are currently fighting for the final spot in the conference tournament. Senior middle blocker Katie Wilson is second on the Vikings with 2.32 kills per set, hitting .282 on the season. Wilson also leads Portland State in blocks, with 97 total, recording .97 blocks per set. Wilson has 11 solo blocks and 86 block assists. Sophomore libero Maddy Reeb runs the Viking offense, averaging 7.73 assists per set, Reeb is also season don the team with 0.22 service aces per set with 22 total this season.

Northern Colorado and Portland State last faced each other in 2017 in Portland. The Vikings won the match, 3-1, with Kortney Lockey leading the team with 16 kills.

Scouting the Hornets
Sacramento State heads into the final week of the regular season with a 10-6 conference record and 15-15 overall. The Hornets have punched their ticket to the conference tournament and currently sit at fifth in the standings, one match ahead of UNC. Sac St. has dropped its last three matches, after facing Idaho, Idaho State, and Weber State. The Hornets travel to take on Portland State Tuesday night in their final regular season road match. Senior outside hitter Mikaela Nocetti has been a force this season, nearly averaging four kills a set, with 425 total this season. Nocetti is hitting .217 on the season and is also second on the team with 2.53 digs per set. Senior middle blocker Lana Brown leads the Big Sky with 1.23 block per set, scoring 24 solo and 114 assists. Brown is adding 1.53 kills per set and hitting a strong .293 from the middle.

Sac St. ended UNC's season last year in the conference tournament, with a 3-1 victory. Emily O'Neil and Alex Kloehn closed out their careers tying for the team lead with 13 kills.

Following the Bears
Northern Colorado will host Portland State on Thursday, November, 15^th at 7 pm(MT) for Senior Night.

Tickets to the match can be purchased by clicking here. Receive a $5 ticket to the match for a nonperishable food donation, with all donations benefeting Weld County Food Bank.

The match will be streamed live on PlutoTV(channel 241) and WatchBigSky.com. Live stats for the match are available on UNCBears.com and follow the match live on Twitter with @UNCBearsVB.

UNC will then play its final regular season match on the road against Sacramento State on Saturday, November 17^th, at 8 pm. The match will also be streamed live on PlutoTV(channel 233) and WatchBigSky.com. Live stats will be provided by HornetSports.com and follow the match live on Twitter with @UNCBearsVB.