University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Volleyball begins Big Sky Tourney with another bout against Idaho
3/30/2021 3:35:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
GREELEY, Colo. – The madness of March has carried over to volleyball as Northern Colorado begins its journey through the Big Sky Conference Championship with a matchup against relatively-familiar foe Idaho. A limited amount a tickets are available to purchase. Make sure you don't miss out on your chance to see the Bears live in action this week and go to - uncbears.com/tickets!
Who: Northern Colorado (13-3, 13-3) vs. Idaho (6-10, 5-9)
When: March 31 | 7 p.m. MT
Where: Greely, Colo. | Bank of Colorado Arena
How To Follow: PlutoTV Ch. 1050 | Live Stats | UNCBearsVB
Quick Sets
With two four-set wins over Idaho, the Bears clinched the No. 2 seed in the Big Sky Tournament, qualifying for the 15th consecutive year since joining the conference in 2006.
Seniors Taylor Muff, Daisy Schultz and Lauren Hinrichs each earned First Team All-Conference honors.
Sophomore transfer Rachel Hickman has made quite the impression, picking up Big Sky Newcomer of the Year and earning Second Team All-Conference honors.
Entering Wednesday's rematch with the Vandals, the Bears rank No. 1 in the conference in aces per set (2.03) and kills per set (13.47). UNC's aces per set also rank ninth in the country.
Junior defensive specialist Laura Katarzynski dialed up a career-high five aces in last week's win over Idaho. The dynamic server is averaging .52 aces per set, good enough for second-best in the conference and No. 21 in the nation.
Lauren Hinrichs has been downright lethal towards the latter half of the season. With a season hitting percentage of .378, Hinrichs leads the Big Sky and is ranked 41st in the country. The Doniphan, Nebraska native recorded a season-high 14 kills with a monstrous .594 hitting percentage in the Bears' first win over Idaho.
Makenzie Harris dialed-up one of her best performances of the year last week in Moscow, turning in 12 kills and five blocks.
Last Time Out
Twice the Bears dropped the first set to the Vandals before running off three straight to take both matchups in Moscow. In the second matchup, UNC capped off the win with a 14-6 run.
Northern Colorado's weekend in Idaho was highlighted by career-best efforts from Lauren Hinrichs (.594 hitting percentage in game 1), Laura Katarzynski (5 aces in game 2) and Rachel Hickman (7 total blocks in game 2). The Bears also posted a season-high 15 blocks against the Vandals in its second matchup.
Scouting Idaho
Idaho was picked to finish sixth this year in the Big Sky preseason poll and are 6-10 overall and 5-9 in conference play entering the final weekend of the regular season.
The Vandals' longest-tenured head coach Debbie Buchanan returns for her 21st year at the helm of Idaho. In 2021, UI's strength has been up front. Idaho ranks No. 1 in the conference in Blocks at 2.52 per set. Redshirt-junior Nikki Ball is second, individually, in the Big Sky with 1.39 per set.
Idaho tallied a season-best nine aces against the Bears in game one with Alaina Lacey picking up six of them.
With a couple of players out last week, expect a slightly different lineup from the Vandals to begin the tournament.
History Against the Vandals
After two straight victories, Northern Colorado now owns the all-time record between the two programs at 9-7.
Looking Ahead
Following a win, the Bears will await its semifinal matchup in the Big Sky Tournament. Should they advance, UNC will play at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 1.
To stay up to date on all things UNC volleyball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
Who: Northern Colorado (13-3, 13-3) vs. Idaho (6-10, 5-9)
When: March 31 | 7 p.m. MT
Where: Greely, Colo. | Bank of Colorado Arena
How To Follow: PlutoTV Ch. 1050 | Live Stats | UNCBearsVB
Quick Sets
With two four-set wins over Idaho, the Bears clinched the No. 2 seed in the Big Sky Tournament, qualifying for the 15th consecutive year since joining the conference in 2006.
Seniors Taylor Muff, Daisy Schultz and Lauren Hinrichs each earned First Team All-Conference honors.
Sophomore transfer Rachel Hickman has made quite the impression, picking up Big Sky Newcomer of the Year and earning Second Team All-Conference honors.
Entering Wednesday's rematch with the Vandals, the Bears rank No. 1 in the conference in aces per set (2.03) and kills per set (13.47). UNC's aces per set also rank ninth in the country.
Junior defensive specialist Laura Katarzynski dialed up a career-high five aces in last week's win over Idaho. The dynamic server is averaging .52 aces per set, good enough for second-best in the conference and No. 21 in the nation.
Lauren Hinrichs has been downright lethal towards the latter half of the season. With a season hitting percentage of .378, Hinrichs leads the Big Sky and is ranked 41st in the country. The Doniphan, Nebraska native recorded a season-high 14 kills with a monstrous .594 hitting percentage in the Bears' first win over Idaho.
Makenzie Harris dialed-up one of her best performances of the year last week in Moscow, turning in 12 kills and five blocks.
Last Time Out
Twice the Bears dropped the first set to the Vandals before running off three straight to take both matchups in Moscow. In the second matchup, UNC capped off the win with a 14-6 run.
Northern Colorado's weekend in Idaho was highlighted by career-best efforts from Lauren Hinrichs (.594 hitting percentage in game 1), Laura Katarzynski (5 aces in game 2) and Rachel Hickman (7 total blocks in game 2). The Bears also posted a season-high 15 blocks against the Vandals in its second matchup.
Scouting Idaho
Idaho was picked to finish sixth this year in the Big Sky preseason poll and are 6-10 overall and 5-9 in conference play entering the final weekend of the regular season.
The Vandals' longest-tenured head coach Debbie Buchanan returns for her 21st year at the helm of Idaho. In 2021, UI's strength has been up front. Idaho ranks No. 1 in the conference in Blocks at 2.52 per set. Redshirt-junior Nikki Ball is second, individually, in the Big Sky with 1.39 per set.
Idaho tallied a season-best nine aces against the Bears in game one with Alaina Lacey picking up six of them.
With a couple of players out last week, expect a slightly different lineup from the Vandals to begin the tournament.
History Against the Vandals
After two straight victories, Northern Colorado now owns the all-time record between the two programs at 9-7.
Looking Ahead
Following a win, the Bears will await its semifinal matchup in the Big Sky Tournament. Should they advance, UNC will play at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 1.
To stay up to date on all things UNC volleyball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
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