Volleyball Punches Ticket to NCAA Tournament

Saturday, November 30

Sacramento, Calif.

8 pm

University of Northern Colorado

26-7

Weber State

24-8

Weber State

Northern Colorado

12/1/2019 1:28:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

UNC volleyball won the Big Sky Championship 3-2 over Weber State

By: By Ryan Pfeifer, UNCBears.com

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Winning a championship takes talent, yes, but it also takes heart and grit. Northern Colorado volleyball showed all three of those aspects in their five-set victory Saturday night in the Big Sky Championship match against Weber State.

YEEEEEEEESSSSSS!!!!! BIG SKY CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!🐻🏐🏆 #GoUNCBears #BigSkyVB pic.twitter.com/X1ZQqObiIb
— UNC Bears Volleyball (@UNC_BearsVB) December 1, 2019

The talent came from Big Sky Tournament MVP Kailey Jo Ince and All-Big Sky Tournament selection Taylor Muff who combined for 41 kills on the night. Muff added in 21 digs to rank second on the team only behind senior Taylor Els and her 27.

The heart and grit came in earning comeback victories in sets two and three and to grind out the win in the fifth set.

After dropping a back and forth first set 26-24, Northern Colorado fell into an 8-2 hole early in the second set. That didn't detour the Bears as they responded with a 10-1 run to take the lead at 12-9. Ince and Muff combined for five kills during that run.

Just like in the semifinals Friday night, Northern Colorado closed sets out strong. In the second the Bears won it on a 3-1 run to even the match at the break.

Freshman Makenzie Harris was a game-changer for Northern Colorado in the third set. She came into the match and picked up six kills during the key set. She had four of the team's final five points in the set including back to back kills to put UNC up 2-1.

.@KaileyInce21 with the nice dig and kill to end the second set! 🐻🏐 #GoUNCBears #BigSkyVB pic.twitter.com/PjY0vybvoY
— UNC Bears Volleyball (@UNC_BearsVB) December 1, 2019

Despite struggling in the fourth set Northern Colorado started the fifth and final set strong. The team jumped out to a 6-3 lead and had it at 8-5 at the switch. Weber State never backed down tying the match set at 12.

Like they have done all season long, UNC closed the match strong with a 3-1 run to win the Big Sky title. On a point that was indictive of the match, both teams scrambled and battled to keep the rally going before Taylor Muff ended it with a great deep tip attack to the back corner to win it.

What They Said

Hear from your Big Sky Champion Coach @LyndseyOates and the Big Sky Tournament MVP @KaileyInce21 after tonight's championship match. 🐻🏐🏆 #GoUNCBears #BigSkyVB pic.twitter.com/fj89A60mDu
— UNC Bears Volleyball (@UNC_BearsVB) December 1, 2019

Game Notes
- This is Northern Colorado's fifth Big Sky Tournament championship. The others came in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2014.
- Three Bears earned All-Tournament honors in Kailey Jo Ince, Taylor Muff and Daisy Schultz. Ince was named the MVP of the tournament.
- Ince led all players with 24 kills on Saturday night. She hit an impressive .353 on the night and added in three blocks.
- Taylor Muff had her second straight double-double with 17 kills and 21 digs.
- Freshman Makenzie Harris tied her career-high with 12 very important kills.
- Taylor Els is now the program's Division I record holder for digs in a career with 1,796 after her 27 on Saturday. She passed Abby Mayne and her 1,782.
- Daisy Schultz finished the night with 68 assists.

What's Ahead
Northern Colorado is now headed to the NCAA Tournament! The Bears will learn who, when and where at 6:30 pm MT when the NCAA Selection Show airs on ESPNU Sunday night.

Join the Bears in celebrating the Big Sky Tournament Championship and learn where they are headed next at the Dugout BBQ located on 11th Ave for the official watch party starting at 6 pm.

To stay up to date on all things UNC volleyball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @UNC_BearsVB.