University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, November 6
Greeley, Colo.
6 p.m. MT
University of Northern Colorado
19-6,11-3Big Sky
3
vs
2
Weber State
16-8,11-3Big Sky
1
2
3
4
5
F
Weber St.
23
25
23
25
7
2
Northern Colo.
25
15
25
19
15
3
Photo by: Jam David
Ince joins 1,000 kills club as Bears outlast Wildcats in five-set thriller on Senior Day
11/6/2021 9:51:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
GREELEY, Colo. – In front of a raucous crowd on Senior Day, Northern Colorado Volleyball gave its fans another thriller, outlasting Weber State, 3-2 (25-23, 15-25, 25-23, 19-25, 15-7).
If the first set was any indication of how the night would go, everyone who packed themselves into Bank of Colorado Arena was in for a treat.
Eleven times the Bears and Wildcats found themselves tied and the lead changed hands on four separate occasions.
Meanwhile, five kills from Lauren Strain and four apiece from Rachel Hickman and Kailey Jo Ince had UNC in position to win a close game. In the end, it was Hickman and Strain's block that gave the Bears set point and Strain who put it away with the final kill to get the crowd invigorated.
Weber State's block was an integral reason the Wildcats were so close to the Bears in set No.1. After five in the opening frame, WSU delivered four more and hit .324 to run away from the Bears and tie the match at one.
While Northern Colorado was unable to respond to the Wildcat's runs when the two teams met a month ago, Lyndsey Oates' crew were determined to show this wasn't the same team Weber State saw in October.
A healthy dose of Rachel Hickman and Kailey Jo Ince did just the trick. Both hit north of .500 in the set and each stacked up five kills. Even Syd Cole called her own number seven times for four kills.
In a set where Ince eclipsed the 1,000 kill mark for her career, the Hesston, Kansas native also dealt the decisive blow to give the Bears the two-set advantage.
Oates and the Bears knew the Wildcats weren't going to return to Ogden without a fight, however. While Weber State only hit .147 in the fourth set, the Bears were unable to capitalize, committing nine errors of their own as the match drifted into the fifth and final set.
A common theme through UNC's first and third set wins was its excellent passing. The fifth proved no different.
Not only did the Bears keep Weber State, statistically the best serving team in the Big Sky, from recording an ace, but UNC and Cole also took advantage, setting up Hickman for four kills on five attacks. Makenzie Harris also grabbed three kills.
Defensively, Northern Colorado's back row also supplied a noteworthy effort. Laura Katarzynski (18) and Syd Cole (13) each reached double-figure dig totals while Makenzie Harris (9), Kailey Jo Ince (9) and Kyndall Feather (8) weren't too far behind.
A 5-0 run in the fifth frame was all UNC needed to seize the momentum. From there, two separate 3-0 flurries, including the last three points to seal it gave Oates and the Bears an important victory.
Entering the final week of the regular season, Northern Colorado sits atop the Big Sky standings, tied with Portland State and Weber State.
What They Said
Head Coach, Lyndsey Oates
Game Notes
What's Ahead
UNC heads out on the road for its final matches of the season before the Big Sky Tournament. The Bears will face Eastern Washington on Friday, November 12 and Idaho on Saturday, November 13. Both matches are at 7 p.m. MT.
To stay up to date on all things UNC volleyball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
If the first set was any indication of how the night would go, everyone who packed themselves into Bank of Colorado Arena was in for a treat.
Eleven times the Bears and Wildcats found themselves tied and the lead changed hands on four separate occasions.
Meanwhile, five kills from Lauren Strain and four apiece from Rachel Hickman and Kailey Jo Ince had UNC in position to win a close game. In the end, it was Hickman and Strain's block that gave the Bears set point and Strain who put it away with the final kill to get the crowd invigorated.
Weber State's block was an integral reason the Wildcats were so close to the Bears in set No.1. After five in the opening frame, WSU delivered four more and hit .324 to run away from the Bears and tie the match at one.
While Northern Colorado was unable to respond to the Wildcat's runs when the two teams met a month ago, Lyndsey Oates' crew were determined to show this wasn't the same team Weber State saw in October.
A healthy dose of Rachel Hickman and Kailey Jo Ince did just the trick. Both hit north of .500 in the set and each stacked up five kills. Even Syd Cole called her own number seven times for four kills.
In a set where Ince eclipsed the 1,000 kill mark for her career, the Hesston, Kansas native also dealt the decisive blow to give the Bears the two-set advantage.
Oates and the Bears knew the Wildcats weren't going to return to Ogden without a fight, however. While Weber State only hit .147 in the fourth set, the Bears were unable to capitalize, committing nine errors of their own as the match drifted into the fifth and final set.
A common theme through UNC's first and third set wins was its excellent passing. The fifth proved no different.
Not only did the Bears keep Weber State, statistically the best serving team in the Big Sky, from recording an ace, but UNC and Cole also took advantage, setting up Hickman for four kills on five attacks. Makenzie Harris also grabbed three kills.
Defensively, Northern Colorado's back row also supplied a noteworthy effort. Laura Katarzynski (18) and Syd Cole (13) each reached double-figure dig totals while Makenzie Harris (9), Kailey Jo Ince (9) and Kyndall Feather (8) weren't too far behind.
A 5-0 run in the fifth frame was all UNC needed to seize the momentum. From there, two separate 3-0 flurries, including the last three points to seal it gave Oates and the Bears an important victory.
Entering the final week of the regular season, Northern Colorado sits atop the Big Sky standings, tied with Portland State and Weber State.
What They Said
Head Coach, Lyndsey Oates
Game Notes
- Kailey Jo Ince became the 20th player in UNC history to reach the 1,000 kills mark.
- Ince (17), Rachel Hickman (15), Makenzie Harris (14) and Lauren Strain (12) all reached double figures in kills.
- Syd Cole (48 assists and 13 digs) recorded her third career double-double.
- Cole's 13 digs were a career-high
- Cole's four kills tie a career-high
- Two wins next week over Eastern Washington and Idaho would give Northern Colorado a share of the regular-season title.
What's Ahead
UNC heads out on the road for its final matches of the season before the Big Sky Tournament. The Bears will face Eastern Washington on Friday, November 12 and Idaho on Saturday, November 13. Both matches are at 7 p.m. MT.
To stay up to date on all things UNC volleyball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Team Stats
Weber
UNC
Kills
52
64
Errors
23
30
Attempts
154
176
Hitting %
.188
.193
Points
72
76
Assists
49
57
Aces
5
4
Blocks
15
8
Game Leaders
Kills
17
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballBig Sky Tournament Finals vs Idaho State
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Big Sky Tournament Semifinals vs Sacramento State
Monday, December 01
Big Sky Tournament Quarterfinals vs Montana State
Monday, December 01
Lyndsey Oates Press Conference Big Sky Championship
Thursday, November 27
