University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Thursday, September 2
Denver, Colo.
6 p.m. MT
University of Northern Colorado
at
Denver
Photo by: Jam David
Volleyball sets sail for Denver Invitational beginning Thursday
9/1/2021 4:20:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
GREELEY, Colo. – It's back to business for Northern Colorado Volleyball. Fresh off its epic five-set win over Colorado State, the Bears head south for the Denver Invitational.
Who: UNC 2-0 vs Denver 3-0 | Mercer 3-0 | Northeastern 1-2
When: Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. MT | Sept. 3 at 4 p.m. MT | Sept. 4 at 3 p.m. MT
Where: Denver, Colo. | Magness Arena
How To Follow: LIVE STREAM | LIVE STATS | UNCBearsVB
Quick Sets
The Bears have gritted out two thrilling matches to open the 2021 season. A week after besting the Big Ten's Northwestern, 3-2 (19-25, 26-24, 25-21, 19-25, 18-16), UNC rattled off another epic victory over in-state rival Colorado State, 3-2 (11-25, 25-23, 27-29, 25-19, 25-13). The win over the Rams was the first for the Bears since 1982.
Junior outside hitter Makenzie Harris unleashed a solid all-around performance in the win over CSU. The Eaton, Colorado native secured career-highs in both kills (14) and digs (10) to post her first double-double in the Blue and Gold. Harris' team-leading three aces were an integral part of the Bears' resurgence from set one to two and were also the most in her collegiate career
Middle blockers Lauren Strain and Cece Huhn also posted career-best numbers. They each posted 12 kills apiece with Strain hitting a team-high .556 on 18 attacks.
Senior defensive specialist Kyndall Feather commanded a back row that ran down a bevy of Colorado State attacks. Feather (16 digs) led the squad as Laura Katarzynski (15 digs) and Makenzie Harris (10 digs) also reach double-figure dig totals.
Northern Colorado's 2-0 start matches the Bears effort from 2019. Coincidently, that season also began with a Big Ten opponent in Rutgers and a Mountain West foe in UNLV. UNC would go on to win the Big Sky Tournament title, reaching its fifth Division I NCAA Tournament appearance.
Last time out
In yet another historic win to open the 2021 campaign, Northern Colorado knocked off Colorado State, 3-2 (11-25, 25-23, 27-29, 25-19, 25-13) for the first time since 1982. Makenzie Harris, Lauren Strain and Cece Huhn all posted career-highs in the win.
Scouting Denver
Sixth-year head coach Tom Hogan returns yet another talented roster to the Mile High City. With 12 total players coming back from a season ago, including four starters, there's a reason why the Pioneers are already receiving top-25 votes.
DU is off to a 3-0 start and already took down a top-25 team in USC. Graduate student Lydia Bartalo has led the charge offensively, hitting .325 in the early parts of the season with a rate of 3.64 kills per set. Bartalo also leads the team with 10 aces. Meanwhile, middle blocker Tina Boe has tallied 11 blocks thus far, leading the Pios at 1.00 blocks per set.
History against the Pioneers
All-time, the Bears are 29-10 against the Pioneers. The two teams haven't squared off since 2016 but UNC took that match, 3-1, in front of the home fans at Bank of Colorado Arena.
Scouting Mercer
The SoCon regular-season champions are already off to a hot start in 2021. With three wins over Stetson, New Hampshire and Murray State, fifth-year head coach Derek Schroeder eyes to keeping things rolling in Denver.
Middle hitter Jaida Howell and outside hitter Annie Karle each landed on the Preseason All-SoCon team. Karle (3.00 k/s) and Taylor Lynch (3.67 k/s) lead a potent Bears offense while Rayanne de Oliveira has compiled 13 blocks in three games.
History against the Bears
Friday's matchup against Mercer will be the first between the two programs. In UNC's DI era, the Bears have only played one other SoCon team, sweeping Chattanooga, 3-0, in 2006.
Scouting Northeastern
The Huskies were picked to finish third in the CAA preseason poll as both middle blocker Nailah Jenkins and outside hitter Erica Staunton landed on the preseason All-CAA Team.
Second-year head coach Lenika Vazquez took over a program that went 15-14 in 2019 and guided the Huskies to an 8-3 mark last spring, including a run to the conference tournament final.
Through three matches, Evelyn Gonzalez leads Northeastern with 3.46 kills per set while Jenkins is doing her thing on the defensive end. The junior has tallied 10 blocks early on and is averaging 0.77 per set.
History against the Huskies
UNC and Northeastern have only matched up once in the history of the two programs. The Bears swept the Huskies, 3-0, in 2018 at Bank of Colorado Arena.
Looking Ahead
Northern Colorado's impressive non-conference slate continues when they host Texas Tech and San Jose State next week.
To stay up to date on all things UNC volleyball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Who: UNC 2-0 vs Denver 3-0 | Mercer 3-0 | Northeastern 1-2
When: Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. MT | Sept. 3 at 4 p.m. MT | Sept. 4 at 3 p.m. MT
Where: Denver, Colo. | Magness Arena
How To Follow: LIVE STREAM | LIVE STATS | UNCBearsVB
Quick Sets
The Bears have gritted out two thrilling matches to open the 2021 season. A week after besting the Big Ten's Northwestern, 3-2 (19-25, 26-24, 25-21, 19-25, 18-16), UNC rattled off another epic victory over in-state rival Colorado State, 3-2 (11-25, 25-23, 27-29, 25-19, 25-13). The win over the Rams was the first for the Bears since 1982.
Junior outside hitter Makenzie Harris unleashed a solid all-around performance in the win over CSU. The Eaton, Colorado native secured career-highs in both kills (14) and digs (10) to post her first double-double in the Blue and Gold. Harris' team-leading three aces were an integral part of the Bears' resurgence from set one to two and were also the most in her collegiate career
Middle blockers Lauren Strain and Cece Huhn also posted career-best numbers. They each posted 12 kills apiece with Strain hitting a team-high .556 on 18 attacks.
Senior defensive specialist Kyndall Feather commanded a back row that ran down a bevy of Colorado State attacks. Feather (16 digs) led the squad as Laura Katarzynski (15 digs) and Makenzie Harris (10 digs) also reach double-figure dig totals.
Northern Colorado's 2-0 start matches the Bears effort from 2019. Coincidently, that season also began with a Big Ten opponent in Rutgers and a Mountain West foe in UNLV. UNC would go on to win the Big Sky Tournament title, reaching its fifth Division I NCAA Tournament appearance.
Last time out
In yet another historic win to open the 2021 campaign, Northern Colorado knocked off Colorado State, 3-2 (11-25, 25-23, 27-29, 25-19, 25-13) for the first time since 1982. Makenzie Harris, Lauren Strain and Cece Huhn all posted career-highs in the win.
Scouting Denver
Sixth-year head coach Tom Hogan returns yet another talented roster to the Mile High City. With 12 total players coming back from a season ago, including four starters, there's a reason why the Pioneers are already receiving top-25 votes.
DU is off to a 3-0 start and already took down a top-25 team in USC. Graduate student Lydia Bartalo has led the charge offensively, hitting .325 in the early parts of the season with a rate of 3.64 kills per set. Bartalo also leads the team with 10 aces. Meanwhile, middle blocker Tina Boe has tallied 11 blocks thus far, leading the Pios at 1.00 blocks per set.
History against the Pioneers
All-time, the Bears are 29-10 against the Pioneers. The two teams haven't squared off since 2016 but UNC took that match, 3-1, in front of the home fans at Bank of Colorado Arena.
Scouting Mercer
The SoCon regular-season champions are already off to a hot start in 2021. With three wins over Stetson, New Hampshire and Murray State, fifth-year head coach Derek Schroeder eyes to keeping things rolling in Denver.
Middle hitter Jaida Howell and outside hitter Annie Karle each landed on the Preseason All-SoCon team. Karle (3.00 k/s) and Taylor Lynch (3.67 k/s) lead a potent Bears offense while Rayanne de Oliveira has compiled 13 blocks in three games.
History against the Bears
Friday's matchup against Mercer will be the first between the two programs. In UNC's DI era, the Bears have only played one other SoCon team, sweeping Chattanooga, 3-0, in 2006.
Scouting Northeastern
The Huskies were picked to finish third in the CAA preseason poll as both middle blocker Nailah Jenkins and outside hitter Erica Staunton landed on the preseason All-CAA Team.
Second-year head coach Lenika Vazquez took over a program that went 15-14 in 2019 and guided the Huskies to an 8-3 mark last spring, including a run to the conference tournament final.
Through three matches, Evelyn Gonzalez leads Northeastern with 3.46 kills per set while Jenkins is doing her thing on the defensive end. The junior has tallied 10 blocks early on and is averaging 0.77 per set.
History against the Huskies
UNC and Northeastern have only matched up once in the history of the two programs. The Bears swept the Huskies, 3-0, in 2018 at Bank of Colorado Arena.
Looking Ahead
Northern Colorado's impressive non-conference slate continues when they host Texas Tech and San Jose State next week.
To stay up to date on all things UNC volleyball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
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