University of Northern Colorado Athletics
University of Northern Colorado
10-3,10-3Big Sky
Northern Arizona
9-4,9-4Big Sky
Double the games, double the wins for UNC on Senior Day
3/17/2021 9:29:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
GREELEY, Colo. – Wednesday's double feature proved double the fun for Northern Colorado. Collecting five straight sets between the two matches, UNC knocked off NAU twice to leapfrog the Lumberjacks in the Big Sky standings.
With identical records entering Wednesday, fans might've expected a tight contest all afternoon long.
Neither the Bears nor the Lumberjacks could find much separation in the opening set. Even when Northern Arizona crept out to a 22-20 lead, UNC found a way to claw back to tie the set at 23.
Eleven first-set digs from libero Kyndall Feather and two timely aces from Rachel Hickman (her first of the year), weren't quite enough to overcome the seven blocks from NAU.
S1 | What a play 🤯#BearsStrong #BigSkyVB pic.twitter.com/CiEtvZE2OI
— UNC Bears Volleyball (@UNC_BearsVB) March 17, 2021
Feather finished with a career-high 28 digs, gathered five assists and served up one ace.
Meanwhile, Hickman matched her career-best with 17 kills, hitting .250 and doubling her career-high in digs with eight.
S2 | Hickman with another kill😤#BearsStrong #BigSkyVB pic.twitter.com/piRvrfytzr
— UNC Bears Volleyball (@UNC_BearsVB) March 17, 2021
However, Northern Colorado punched right back to open the second frame, scampering out to a quick 8-2 lead.
Feeling a bit of confidence from her two aces near the end of the first set, Rachel Hickman kept it rolling in the second. The sophomore exploded for nine kills in the second set alone.
Northern Colorado went from hitting sub-.100 in the opening frame to .356 in the second as the Bears cruised to a 25-16 set win.
The Lumberjacks' effect block returned in the third set. Five total blocks from NAU, combined with .300 hitting led to a 2-1 deficit for the Bears to climb out of.
Freshman Lauren Strain stepped into the spotlight in the fourth. Totaling five kills and five block assists, her energy led the Bears to force a deciding fifth set.
Playing in front of a home crowd for the first time in nearly a month, Northern Colorado wasn't about to disappoint. The Bears absolutely owned the final set, hitting .286 and delivering two clutch aces to capture the first of two matches.
S5 | That's how we start the fifth set 😎#BearsStrong #BigSkyVB pic.twitter.com/clqSbE50fa
— UNC Bears Volleyball (@UNC_BearsVB) March 17, 2021
A little over four hours later, UNC four a way to carry its energy over to match No. 2 of the day.
Lauren Strain, who started her first match in the Blue and Gold Wednesday evening, took full advantage of another opportunity, tallying three blocks.
S1 | Lauren Strain with a big kill!#BearsStrong #BigSkyVB pic.twitter.com/JVWF4JR8xq
— UNC Bears Volleyball (@UNC_BearsVB) March 18, 2021
Rachel Hickman equaled Strain's three blocks in the first set as the Bears went on to collect the set win, 25-18.
The Bears hustled out to a quick lead in the second set and had to stave off an aggressive comeback from Northern Arizona.
A healthy dose of Rachel Hickman and stout serving Kyndall Feather kept the Lumberjacks out of reach as UNC took a commanding two-set advantage.
S2 | Rachel Hickman gets through the block for the kill 😤#BearsStrong #BigSkyVB pic.twitter.com/ydFFdnGSIB
— UNC Bears Volleyball (@UNC_BearsVB) March 18, 2021
Feather posted another 18 digs and a season-high four aces.
Daisy Schultz and offense had it all rolling in the third. Hitting a phenomenal .417, Northern Colorado raced out to a double-digit lead and never looked back, earning the Bears two hard-fought victories on the day.
What They Said
Head Coach, Lyndsey Oates
Senior setter Daisy Schultz
Freshman Middle Blocker Lauren Strain
Stat of the Day
Aces – UNC's aggressive serving paid dividends on Wednesday. The Bears combined for 16 aces, compared to just six from NAU.
Game Notes
Game 1
- Northern Colorado is now 3-1 when playing in five-set matches.
- Kyndall Feather set a career-high with a monstrous 28 digs.
- Rachel Hickman matched her career-best with 17 kills and doubled her best dig total with eight.
- Lauren Strain added three blocks, her most since recording five against Eastern Washington
- Lauren Hinrichs delivered a season-high 13 kills. She had previously posted nine kills twice.
Game 2
- Taylor Muff (15) and Rachel Hickman (12) each reached double-figure kill totals.
- Hickman hit an incredible .318 over both matches on Wednesday.
- Kyndall Feather tallied a season-high four aces.
- The Bears ripped off five straight sets over Northern Arizona.
- Hickman, Lauren Hinrichs and Lauren Strain combined for 11 block assists
What's Ahead
Rest is for the weary as Northern Colorado will head right back out on the road for two matches against Idaho on Sunday and Monday.
To stay up to date on all things UNC volleyball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
