University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, August 25
Greeley, Colo.
7 pm
University of Northern Colorado
1-1
2
vs
3
Illinois
3-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 23 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 3 |
| Northern Colorado | 25 | 23 | 19 | 25 | 12 | 2 |
Photo by: Dean Popejoy
Recap: @UNCBearsVB Just Misses on Upset Bid
8/25/2018 11:36:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
UNC volleyball pushed No. 12 Illinois to the brink, but could not finish the upset bid Saturday
GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado volleyball gave No. 12 Illinois all it could handle Saturday night inside Bank of Colorado Arena pushing the Fighting Illini to five sets, just missing out on the upset. The Bears took the first set before Illinois responded winning sets two and three. UNC forced the decisive fifth set but was unable to take advantage of 5-0 and 11-8 leads, as Illinois closed the match out with a 7-2 run.
How it Happened
Fresh off an opening day sweep of UNC Wilmington, Northern Colorado came out and matched point for point with Illinois to start the match. The Bears took the first sizeable lead in the match with its two Taylors, Els and Muff, toeing the service line. UNC went on a 5-1 run to put the team up 14-10 and extended it to 16-11 before Illinois made a chargeback. UI cut the lead to one at 22-21, but Northern Colorado never relinquished it winning the first set on a pair of kills from Kortney Lockey and Taylor Muff. The Bears showed a balanced attack in the first set with four different players recording multiple kills and benefited from poor serving from Illinois who had six service errors in it.
Similar to the first set, UNC did not back down from Illinois playing neck and neck with them. A 7-2 run gave the Illini a 16-12 lead in the set, but the Bears battled all the way back tying it at 23. Mistakes from Illinois helped UNC go on a 7-2 run that evened the set. A Megan Cooney kill and Muff attack error allowed the match to be evened up at 1 going to the break.
The third set was one of runs as Illinois opened it on a 5-1 one while UNC responded with a 6-1 run of their own. Another 5-1 run gave Illinois the lead and command of the set at 20-15, closing it out and winning it 25-19 to go up 2-1 in the match. Northern Colorado's attack struggled during the third set hitting .139, while Illinois hit .310.
Down two sets to one, Northern Colorado dug its heels in for a fight in the fourth set to extend the match. The Bear went swing for swing with the Illini, just outhitting them .231-.229. The even stat sheet proved to be correct on the court as well, as the teams traded blow for blow exchanging the lead nine times and tying five during it. A late Northern Colorado 8-2 run helped the team to go from tied at 16 to a point away from forcing a decisive fifth set. Illinois made a run at UNC before Jaydn McCartney pushed the match to a fifth set with her third kill of the fourth.
Carrying the momentum from a strong closing of the fourth set, Northern Colorado came out fast in the fifth set. UNC started the set up 5-0 with kills from Lauren Hinrichs, Kortney Lockey and McCartney. Up 5-1, a key touch call by the official shifted some of the momenta Illinois way. The Bears would have been up 6-1 on a high attack from Blayke Hranicka, but a touch call made it a 5-2 set. Illinois closed the game to two points at the switch. Northern Colorado extended its lead to 11-8, but Illinois found its touch passing late and closed the match on a 7-1 run to grasp the upset out of the Bears hands.
What They Said
Head Coach Lyndsey Oates
Overall thoughts on the match
My overall thought is gutwrenching right now. We were up 11-8 and let it get away. I can't quite get over that right now, but we played so well. I think that is as well as we have played in the past three years we just could not finish it in the end. I thought our difference was our serving. We served extremely well tonight and kept them out of system. They converted a few passes late to set their middles that we had not seen before in the first four and a half sets that they were able to attack late. I can not fault out effort it was great tonight.
What has Lauren Hinrichs brought to this team?
She is so good on the slide. Anyone in our conference knows that Northern Colorado is good on the slide and she is another one of those who is so good on that ball and tough to defend. She was really scoring tonight and we had four hitters scoring for us. If we can get Brittany (Lawrence) going like she has in practice and it's a different outcome.
How did the defense slow down the Illinois offense?
If we were able to get a good block and a good size block on them we could handle them defensively. Taylor (Els) did a good job controlling the defense and then our two middle backs in Taylor Muff and Kortney (Lockey) have some much range it helps our defense.
How do you use this game not only to motivate the team not only for Tuesday but for the whole season?
We have to look at it two ways, I did say to them in the postgame huddle that this is the court that we have to win a championship in November. We do want to look forward to that, but at the same time, we have to keep the season short. A day off tomorrow where they watch film an then a day on Monday to prepare for CSU who will be very similar to Illinois. We do not want to come in on Wednesday saying could of, would of, should of about two matches then.
Senior Outside Hitter Kortney Lockey
Do you feel like you left it all on the court.
I do think we left it all on the court. That was a great match and I don't think we can walk away from it hanging our heads about anything.
How much momentum did the team gain winning the first set?
That first set is huge no matter who you are playing. It's a huge momentum builder and a lot of people do not realize it. When you go up on a team that people do not think you have a chance against because they are No. 12 in the country and you were picked sixth in the Big Sky that's a huge momentum builder to take it.
How has Lauren Hinrichs helped this team
Lauren has really turned it up a notch. We got her this spring and it has been a blessing. She is not only a force at the net blocking, but also scoring well for us right now too.
Junior Libero Taylor Els
How did you combat the heavy attack from Illinois' outside hitters?
We were just trying to stay on the perimeter and play straight up the defense and chase down their balls. The block did a great job of setting up at the net giving us good reads on balls in the back row.
How important was the serving game tonight?
I thought we won the serving game tonight. In the first set, I do not think they were expecting us to come out and serve as aggressively as we did. They are a great team and had some great serves too and it was pretty neck and neck at that point.
How do you take this match and use it throughout the remainder of the season?
We are really proud of ourselves, but not satisfied yet. We are ready to take on CSU in the next game and finding a way to come away with the win.
Game Changer
Northern Colorado had kept Illinois' middles in check for the majority of the match, but Blayke Hranicka and Ashleyn Fleming came alive just at the first time for UI recording the final two kills and combining for four kills in the final set.
Stat to Know
Serving and receiving can be momentum builders and killer in volleyball and proved to be important in this match. Northern Colorado recorded eight service aces and benefitted from 13 serving errors by Illinois.
Game Notes
- Kortney Lockey and Taylor Muff recorded the first double-doubles of the season for UNC in the match. Lockey led the team in kills with 15 and was second in digs with 14, while Muff added 13 kills and 10 digs of her own.
- Middle blocker Lauren Hinrichs continues to make an early impact for Northern Colorado, recording 13 kills on the night and four block assists while hitting a very impressive .400.
- Taylor Els once again helped control the Bears back row defense with 18 digs and helping position the block up front leading to seven team blocks.
What's Ahead?
With the sour taste of letting the upset win slip away, UNC has another chance at a top 25 win on Tuesday with in-state rival and 25th ranked Colorado State comes to Bank of Colorado Arena. First serve is set for 7 pm.
Tickets to the match and any Northern Colorado volleyball match can be purchased at UNCBears.com/Tickets.
To stay up to date on all things UNC volleyball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter at @UNCBearsVB.
How it Happened
Fresh off an opening day sweep of UNC Wilmington, Northern Colorado came out and matched point for point with Illinois to start the match. The Bears took the first sizeable lead in the match with its two Taylors, Els and Muff, toeing the service line. UNC went on a 5-1 run to put the team up 14-10 and extended it to 16-11 before Illinois made a chargeback. UI cut the lead to one at 22-21, but Northern Colorado never relinquished it winning the first set on a pair of kills from Kortney Lockey and Taylor Muff. The Bears showed a balanced attack in the first set with four different players recording multiple kills and benefited from poor serving from Illinois who had six service errors in it.
Similar to the first set, UNC did not back down from Illinois playing neck and neck with them. A 7-2 run gave the Illini a 16-12 lead in the set, but the Bears battled all the way back tying it at 23. Mistakes from Illinois helped UNC go on a 7-2 run that evened the set. A Megan Cooney kill and Muff attack error allowed the match to be evened up at 1 going to the break.
The third set was one of runs as Illinois opened it on a 5-1 one while UNC responded with a 6-1 run of their own. Another 5-1 run gave Illinois the lead and command of the set at 20-15, closing it out and winning it 25-19 to go up 2-1 in the match. Northern Colorado's attack struggled during the third set hitting .139, while Illinois hit .310.
Down two sets to one, Northern Colorado dug its heels in for a fight in the fourth set to extend the match. The Bear went swing for swing with the Illini, just outhitting them .231-.229. The even stat sheet proved to be correct on the court as well, as the teams traded blow for blow exchanging the lead nine times and tying five during it. A late Northern Colorado 8-2 run helped the team to go from tied at 16 to a point away from forcing a decisive fifth set. Illinois made a run at UNC before Jaydn McCartney pushed the match to a fifth set with her third kill of the fourth.
Carrying the momentum from a strong closing of the fourth set, Northern Colorado came out fast in the fifth set. UNC started the set up 5-0 with kills from Lauren Hinrichs, Kortney Lockey and McCartney. Up 5-1, a key touch call by the official shifted some of the momenta Illinois way. The Bears would have been up 6-1 on a high attack from Blayke Hranicka, but a touch call made it a 5-2 set. Illinois closed the game to two points at the switch. Northern Colorado extended its lead to 11-8, but Illinois found its touch passing late and closed the match on a 7-1 run to grasp the upset out of the Bears hands.
What They Said
Head Coach Lyndsey Oates
Overall thoughts on the match
My overall thought is gutwrenching right now. We were up 11-8 and let it get away. I can't quite get over that right now, but we played so well. I think that is as well as we have played in the past three years we just could not finish it in the end. I thought our difference was our serving. We served extremely well tonight and kept them out of system. They converted a few passes late to set their middles that we had not seen before in the first four and a half sets that they were able to attack late. I can not fault out effort it was great tonight.
What has Lauren Hinrichs brought to this team?
She is so good on the slide. Anyone in our conference knows that Northern Colorado is good on the slide and she is another one of those who is so good on that ball and tough to defend. She was really scoring tonight and we had four hitters scoring for us. If we can get Brittany (Lawrence) going like she has in practice and it's a different outcome.
How did the defense slow down the Illinois offense?
If we were able to get a good block and a good size block on them we could handle them defensively. Taylor (Els) did a good job controlling the defense and then our two middle backs in Taylor Muff and Kortney (Lockey) have some much range it helps our defense.
How do you use this game not only to motivate the team not only for Tuesday but for the whole season?
We have to look at it two ways, I did say to them in the postgame huddle that this is the court that we have to win a championship in November. We do want to look forward to that, but at the same time, we have to keep the season short. A day off tomorrow where they watch film an then a day on Monday to prepare for CSU who will be very similar to Illinois. We do not want to come in on Wednesday saying could of, would of, should of about two matches then.
Senior Outside Hitter Kortney Lockey
Do you feel like you left it all on the court.
I do think we left it all on the court. That was a great match and I don't think we can walk away from it hanging our heads about anything.
How much momentum did the team gain winning the first set?
That first set is huge no matter who you are playing. It's a huge momentum builder and a lot of people do not realize it. When you go up on a team that people do not think you have a chance against because they are No. 12 in the country and you were picked sixth in the Big Sky that's a huge momentum builder to take it.
How has Lauren Hinrichs helped this team
Lauren has really turned it up a notch. We got her this spring and it has been a blessing. She is not only a force at the net blocking, but also scoring well for us right now too.
Junior Libero Taylor Els
How did you combat the heavy attack from Illinois' outside hitters?
We were just trying to stay on the perimeter and play straight up the defense and chase down their balls. The block did a great job of setting up at the net giving us good reads on balls in the back row.
How important was the serving game tonight?
I thought we won the serving game tonight. In the first set, I do not think they were expecting us to come out and serve as aggressively as we did. They are a great team and had some great serves too and it was pretty neck and neck at that point.
How do you take this match and use it throughout the remainder of the season?
We are really proud of ourselves, but not satisfied yet. We are ready to take on CSU in the next game and finding a way to come away with the win.
Game Changer
Northern Colorado had kept Illinois' middles in check for the majority of the match, but Blayke Hranicka and Ashleyn Fleming came alive just at the first time for UI recording the final two kills and combining for four kills in the final set.
Stat to Know
Serving and receiving can be momentum builders and killer in volleyball and proved to be important in this match. Northern Colorado recorded eight service aces and benefitted from 13 serving errors by Illinois.
Game Notes
- Kortney Lockey and Taylor Muff recorded the first double-doubles of the season for UNC in the match. Lockey led the team in kills with 15 and was second in digs with 14, while Muff added 13 kills and 10 digs of her own.
- Middle blocker Lauren Hinrichs continues to make an early impact for Northern Colorado, recording 13 kills on the night and four block assists while hitting a very impressive .400.
- Taylor Els once again helped control the Bears back row defense with 18 digs and helping position the block up front leading to seven team blocks.
What's Ahead?
With the sour taste of letting the upset win slip away, UNC has another chance at a top 25 win on Tuesday with in-state rival and 25th ranked Colorado State comes to Bank of Colorado Arena. First serve is set for 7 pm.
Tickets to the match and any Northern Colorado volleyball match can be purchased at UNCBears.com/Tickets.
To stay up to date on all things UNC volleyball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Twitter at @UNCBearsVB.
Team Stats
ILL
NC
Kills
66
58
Errors
23
24
Attempts
158
160
Hitting %
.272
.213
Points
83.0
73.0
Assists
61
55
Aces
8
8
Blocks
9.0
7.0
Game Leaders
Kills
15
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
13
Aces
2
Blocks
1
Kills
13
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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