Volleyball's season comes to an end in the NCAA Tournament

Thursday, December 2

Waco, Texas

3:30 p.m. MT

University of Northern Colorado

24-7,13-3Big Sky

Washington State

20-11,13-7Pac-12

Northern Colo.

Washington St.

Photo by: Thomas Hoffman

12/2/2021 6:32:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: By Thomas Hoffman, UNCBears.com

WACO, Texas – Competing in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time, Northern Colorado went toe-to-toe with No. 22 Washington State. While UNC proved they could hang with the Pac-12 foe, leading most of the third set, the Bears weren't able to outlast the Cougars as yet another impressively successful season came to an end with a 3-0 (17-25, 15-25, 20-25) loss.

The Bears came out showing the Cougars why UNC is the most efficient offense in the Big Sky Conference.

Tournament MVP Makenzie Harris along with Cece Huhn, Lauren Strain and Rachel Hickman all recorded early kills as the Bears kept pace with Washington State early.

Northern Colorado put together a 5-0 run midway through the set, in part due to back-to-back aces from Harris. Five blocks were too much to overcome, however, as the Cougs walked away with the opening set win.

Harris proved to be the best attacking option for the Bears in the second set. Four kills on .308 hitting led the way for UNC. The junior from Eaton, Colorado would finish with six kills on the evening.

All-out effort highlighted the second frame. On multiple occasions and utilizing multiple limbs, UNC kept points alive.

Senior defensive specialist Laura Katarzynski put herself right in the middle of the defensive effort, eclipsing double figures in digs with ease. The Winfield, Illinois native rang up a match-high 21 digs.

Coming out of the locker room to start the third set, the Bears found the extra gear UNC fans are accustomed to seeing this late in the season.

Northern Colorado led for most of the final frame behind the balanced attack of Ince, Strain and Hickman. All three of them recorded four kills apiece in the third set alone.

Ince would tally a team-high nine kills on the afternoon.

In the end, a 6-1 run for the Cougs swung the momentum back toward Washington State and took the match, 3-0.

What They Said
Kailey Jo Ince, Laura Katarzynski and Jon Haruguchi

UNC Athletics · Volleyball post match - NCAA Tournament

Games Notes

Both Laura Katarzynski (21) and Kyndall Feather (10) reached double figures in digs.
Katarzynski's 21 digs were one shy of the most she's recorded in a three-set match.
Kataryznski will end her career with the most career aces in Division I history (140).
UNC's 190 aces on the season are the second-most in a single season for the Bears.
Daisy Schultz, Laura Katarzynski and Kyndall Feather all ended their careers in the Blue and Gold. The three were both integral in UNC's unprecedented success over the last five seasons.