University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Friday, September 17
Peoria, Ill.
9 a.m. MT
University of Northern Colorado
7-2
3
vs
2
Saint Louis
5-6
1
2
3
4
5
F
Northern Colorado
14
25
15
25
15
3
Saint Louis
25
19
25
21
11
2
Volleyball outduels Saint Louis in five
9/17/2021 11:44:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
PEORIA, Ill. – Northern Colorado and Saint Louis gave fans in Peoria, Illinois a show in the early parts of Friday morning but it was the Bears who walked away with the five-set win, 3-2 (14-25, 25-19, 15-25, 25-21, 15-11), behind career performances from freshman Annette Baker and senior Kyndall Feather.
It was Saint Louis who took advantage of the early morning start. Hitting .583 in the early parts of the opening frame, the Billikens took a quick 13-7 lead, forcing a Northern Colorado timeout.
UNC dialed up a little four-point run to force a Billiken timeout at 13-21, but it was too little too late as SLU took the opening set.
A better start to the second set began at the service line. Kyndall Feather mustered back-to-back aces to get the Bears off and running. Strong serves from Bronwyn Timperley and Michaela Boon also forced Saint Louis out of system, allowing UNC to play with a lead.
Northern Colorado's front row also turned up its blocking effort. Cece Huhn, Rachel Hickman and Kailey Jo Ince all recorded multiple block assists as the Bears tied up the match at one set apiece.
A bevy of errors to begin the third put UNC behind the eight ball as SLU slid out to a 13-5 lead.
Seven blocks in the third set alone gave Saint Louis all it needed to take a 2-1 set lead.
Northern Colorado found a way to stifle the Billiken block in the fourth. It began, once more, at the service line. Aces from Laura Katarzynski and Michaela Boon gave UNC the confidence it needed to start swinging freely.
Ince kept her mammoth performance going as did freshman Annette Baker. Ince tallied a match-high 22 kills while Baker racked up a career-best 10 kills.
Defensively, three-time Big Sky Player of the week Kyndall Feather was playing like one on Friday morning. With 31 digs, Feather set a new career-high.
Even Cece Huh got in on the party, grabbing her second-career one as the Bears forced a decisive fifth set for the fourth time this season.
Going into the weekend, the Bears held a 3-0 record in five-set affairs and Lyndsey Oates' crew wasn't about to ruin its perfect start on Friday.
Ince, Baker and Hickman helped UNC pop out to a quick 5-3 lead, and with Boon serving, UNC rattled off three straight points via Baker, Ince and Schultz to grab a stranglehold on the contest.
A timely block from Ince and Strain left the Bears with a 10-4 lead and all of the game's momentum.
Though Saint Louis crept closer with a four-point run late, kills from Baker and Strain shut the door on the Billikens and gave UNC its seventh win of the season.
Game Notes
What's Ahead
It's double-header Friday for the Bears. UNC will turn around to face tournament hosts Bradley at 6 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.
It was Saint Louis who took advantage of the early morning start. Hitting .583 in the early parts of the opening frame, the Billikens took a quick 13-7 lead, forcing a Northern Colorado timeout.
UNC dialed up a little four-point run to force a Billiken timeout at 13-21, but it was too little too late as SLU took the opening set.
A better start to the second set began at the service line. Kyndall Feather mustered back-to-back aces to get the Bears off and running. Strong serves from Bronwyn Timperley and Michaela Boon also forced Saint Louis out of system, allowing UNC to play with a lead.
Northern Colorado's front row also turned up its blocking effort. Cece Huhn, Rachel Hickman and Kailey Jo Ince all recorded multiple block assists as the Bears tied up the match at one set apiece.
A bevy of errors to begin the third put UNC behind the eight ball as SLU slid out to a 13-5 lead.
Seven blocks in the third set alone gave Saint Louis all it needed to take a 2-1 set lead.
Northern Colorado found a way to stifle the Billiken block in the fourth. It began, once more, at the service line. Aces from Laura Katarzynski and Michaela Boon gave UNC the confidence it needed to start swinging freely.
Ince kept her mammoth performance going as did freshman Annette Baker. Ince tallied a match-high 22 kills while Baker racked up a career-best 10 kills.
Defensively, three-time Big Sky Player of the week Kyndall Feather was playing like one on Friday morning. With 31 digs, Feather set a new career-high.
Even Cece Huh got in on the party, grabbing her second-career one as the Bears forced a decisive fifth set for the fourth time this season.
Going into the weekend, the Bears held a 3-0 record in five-set affairs and Lyndsey Oates' crew wasn't about to ruin its perfect start on Friday.
Ince, Baker and Hickman helped UNC pop out to a quick 5-3 lead, and with Boon serving, UNC rattled off three straight points via Baker, Ince and Schultz to grab a stranglehold on the contest.
A timely block from Ince and Strain left the Bears with a 10-4 lead and all of the game's momentum.
Though Saint Louis crept closer with a four-point run late, kills from Baker and Strain shut the door on the Billikens and gave UNC its seventh win of the season.
Game Notes
- Northern Colorado improves to 4-0 in five-set matches this season.
- Kyndall Feather finished with a career-high 31 digs.
- With two aces, Feather now sits at 99 for her career.
- Annette Baker grabbed a career-best 10 kills.
- Cece Huhn secured her second-career ace.
What's Ahead
It's double-header Friday for the Bears. UNC will turn around to face tournament hosts Bradley at 6 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
UNC
SLU
Kills
52
55
Errors
30
23
Attempts
158
166
Hitting %
.139
.193
Points
66.0
81.5
Assists
51
53
Aces
7
8
Blocks
7.0
18.5
Game Leaders
Kills
22
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
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