University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Friday, December 6
Honolulu, Hawaii
7 pm HT / 10 pm MT
University of Northern Colorado
at
Hawaii
Photo by: Ryan Pfeifer
Bears Open NCAA Tournament Against Hawaii
12/5/2019 1:07:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Northern Colorado begins NCAA Volleyball Tournament against No. 12 Hawaii
HONOLULU, Hawaii – Northern Colorado volleyball returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time on Friday to face No. 12 Hawaii in the opening round at 7 pm HT/ 10 pm MT. The Bears earned the trip to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Big Sky Tournament last week.
How to Follow
For fans not in Hawaii, the match will be streamed at the following link. Keep up on all of the trip by following the team on Twitter and Instagram at @UNC_BearsVB.
Quick Sets
• Northern Colorado won its fifth Big Sky Tournament in program history defeating Montana, Montana State and Weber State on the way to the championship. UNC also won the Big Sky Tournament in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2014.
• Outside hitter Kailey Jo Ince was named the tournament MVP. She had 60 kills during the tournament, including 24 in the championship match against Weber State.
• Joining Ince on the All-Tournament team were teammates Daisy Schultz and Taylor Muff. Schultz averaged 13.38 assists per set over the three days and recorded a double-double in the semifinals against Montana State with 57 assists and 13 digs. Muff averaged 3.77 kills and 3.69 digs per set with a pair of double-doubles.
• In the title match, senior libero Taylor Els became the program's Division I all-time leader in career digs. She now has 1,796 passing the former leader Abby Mayne and her 1,782.
• UNC had four players earn All-Big Sky honors in 2019 in Daisy Schultz (1st team), Taylor Muff (1st team), Kailey Jo Ince (1st team) and Lauren Hinrichs (2nd team). Schultz was also the Big Sky's MVP and head coach Lyndsey Oates earned the Big Sky Coach of the Year award.
• This is the second time in program history the Bears have gone to Hawaii for the NCAA Tournament. The other came in 2011.
• Northern Colorado has won a program Division I record 26 games in 2019 and is currently on a 12-match win streak.
• The Bears have a pair of assistant coaches who are from Hawaii in Pi'i Aiu and Jon Haruguchi.
UNC in the NCAA Tournament
Northern Colorado is making its fifth appearance in the NCAA DI Tournament since joining the ranks in 2006. The Bears are 0-4 in the previous four trips
Year Opponent
2009 vs #6 Washington (1-3)
2011 at #3 Hawaii (0-3)
2012 at #5 Oregon (0-3)
2014 vs Colorado (1-3)
Scouting Hawaii
Hawaii enters the NCAA Tournament as the No. 12 seed after going 24-3 in the regular season and winning the Big West Conference at 14-2.
UH is led on the attack by Big West Freshman of the Year Hanna Hellvig and her 3.12 kills per set. As a team the Wahine is averaging 13.46 kills per set and hitting .247 on the year.
Hawaii also has the Big West Player of the Year on their team in Norene Iosia. One of the team's two setters as they run 6-2 averages 5.55 assists per set and 2.82 digs.
The Rainbow Wahine ranks 26th nationally in blocks per set with 2.62. Skyler Williams leads the team with 1.09 a set.
History against Hawaii
Northern Colorado and Hawaii have played each other just once in their history coming in 2011 when UH hosted UNC in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Bears fell to the Rainbow Wahine in that match 3-0.
What's Ahead
With a win Northern Colorado advances to the NCAA Tournament second round to face the winner of the San Diego-Washington State match on Saturday, December 7 at 10 pm MT.
For more information about Northern Colorado volleyball, visit UNCBeas.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @UNC_BearsVB.
How to Follow
For fans not in Hawaii, the match will be streamed at the following link. Keep up on all of the trip by following the team on Twitter and Instagram at @UNC_BearsVB.
Quick Sets
• Northern Colorado won its fifth Big Sky Tournament in program history defeating Montana, Montana State and Weber State on the way to the championship. UNC also won the Big Sky Tournament in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2014.
• Outside hitter Kailey Jo Ince was named the tournament MVP. She had 60 kills during the tournament, including 24 in the championship match against Weber State.
• Joining Ince on the All-Tournament team were teammates Daisy Schultz and Taylor Muff. Schultz averaged 13.38 assists per set over the three days and recorded a double-double in the semifinals against Montana State with 57 assists and 13 digs. Muff averaged 3.77 kills and 3.69 digs per set with a pair of double-doubles.
• In the title match, senior libero Taylor Els became the program's Division I all-time leader in career digs. She now has 1,796 passing the former leader Abby Mayne and her 1,782.
• UNC had four players earn All-Big Sky honors in 2019 in Daisy Schultz (1st team), Taylor Muff (1st team), Kailey Jo Ince (1st team) and Lauren Hinrichs (2nd team). Schultz was also the Big Sky's MVP and head coach Lyndsey Oates earned the Big Sky Coach of the Year award.
• This is the second time in program history the Bears have gone to Hawaii for the NCAA Tournament. The other came in 2011.
• Northern Colorado has won a program Division I record 26 games in 2019 and is currently on a 12-match win streak.
• The Bears have a pair of assistant coaches who are from Hawaii in Pi'i Aiu and Jon Haruguchi.
UNC in the NCAA Tournament
Northern Colorado is making its fifth appearance in the NCAA DI Tournament since joining the ranks in 2006. The Bears are 0-4 in the previous four trips
Year Opponent
2009 vs #6 Washington (1-3)
2011 at #3 Hawaii (0-3)
2012 at #5 Oregon (0-3)
2014 vs Colorado (1-3)
Scouting Hawaii
Hawaii enters the NCAA Tournament as the No. 12 seed after going 24-3 in the regular season and winning the Big West Conference at 14-2.
UH is led on the attack by Big West Freshman of the Year Hanna Hellvig and her 3.12 kills per set. As a team the Wahine is averaging 13.46 kills per set and hitting .247 on the year.
Hawaii also has the Big West Player of the Year on their team in Norene Iosia. One of the team's two setters as they run 6-2 averages 5.55 assists per set and 2.82 digs.
The Rainbow Wahine ranks 26th nationally in blocks per set with 2.62. Skyler Williams leads the team with 1.09 a set.
History against Hawaii
Northern Colorado and Hawaii have played each other just once in their history coming in 2011 when UH hosted UNC in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Bears fell to the Rainbow Wahine in that match 3-0.
What's Ahead
With a win Northern Colorado advances to the NCAA Tournament second round to face the winner of the San Diego-Washington State match on Saturday, December 7 at 10 pm MT.
For more information about Northern Colorado volleyball, visit UNCBeas.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @UNC_BearsVB.
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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