Bears clinch Big Sky Championship

Friday, November 18

Cheney, Wash.

7 p.m. MT

University of Northern Colorado

Eastern Washington

11/18/2022 9:37:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

UNC Athletics · VB Postgame at Eastern Washington: Lyndsey Oates

CHENEY, Wash.— After earning co-champion status a year ago, the Northern Colorado volleyball team won't need to share this season as the Bears clinched the regular-season Big Sky title on Friday night.

Needing one win over its final two matches, Northern Colorado (18-8, 12-3 Big Sky) came back from two sets down to defeat Eastern Washington, 3-2 (14-25, 16-25, 25-11, 25-19, 15-9) for its 10th straight win and the outright 2022 Big Sky Regular-Season Championship.

The regular-season title is the fifth for the Bears since 2010 and the third instance where they won the title uncontested.

The victory also secures the No. 1 seed in the Big Sky Tournament to be played in Ogden, Utah from Nov. 23-26. The Bears are also the returning Big Sky Tournament champion after they defeated the host Wildcats from Weber State, 3-2, to advance to the 2021 NCAA Championships.

Down two sets to none on Friday, UNC pulled off its largest comeback of the season against Eastern Washington (10-17, 5-10 Big Sky). Already trailing 4-2 in the third set, UNC unleashed a 16-1 spree that included 12 straight served by Brynn Reines to fend off the sweep.

Momentum firmly on the UNC bench, the Bears never trailed in the fourth or fifth sets to earn its first win of the season after falling behind by a 2-0 hole.

Kailey Jo Ince led the UNC attack with 17 kills and was closely followed by the 16 terminations from Rachel Hickman.

The win also gives the team its second longest winning streak in the 18 years with Head Coach Lyndsey Oates at the helm. The Bears rattled off 12 straight win to conclude a 2019 campaign where they captured the Big Sky regular-season and tournament crowns.

The Bears will close out the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 19 at the University of Idaho. Opening serve against the Vandals is set for 7 p.m. MT in Moscow, Idaho.