University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Saturday, November 26
Ogden, Utah
7 p.m.
University of Northern Colorado
22-8,13-3Big Sky
3
vs
2
#2 Portland State
18-12,11-5Big Sky
1
2
3
4
5
F
Portland St.
25
23
27
15
6
2
Northern Colo.
23
25
25
25
15
3
Back-to-back Champs: Bears defend Big Sky title in another five-setter
11/26/2022 9:56:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
OGDEN, Utah—After needing a two-set comeback in the semifinals, Northern Colorado rallied from a pair of deficits to claim its seventh Big Sky Tournament title with a 3-2 (23-25, 25-23, 25-27, 25-15, 15-6) win over Portland State.
After dropping the first set and falling behind 2-1, No. 1-seeded Northern Colorado (22-8) dominated the final two sets of play to advance to the NCAA DI National Championship.
Senior outside hitter Makenzie Harris was named the Big Sky Tournament MVP for the second straight season and was joined by junior setter Syd Cole and senior middle blocker Cece Huhn on the All-Tournament Team.
UNC will learn its fate on Sunday with the NCAA Selection Show that is set to air at 5:30 p.m. MT on ESPNU. The Bears will enter the national championships carrying a school-record 14-match winning streak. After starting the season with a 0-5 record in five-set matches, UNC has evened its mark with five straight wins that went the distance.
Harris and Huhn join senior libero Michaela Boon and graduate outside hitter Kailey Jo Ince as three-time Big Sky Tournament champions after also being part of the title teams in 2019 and 2021.
No. 2-seeded Portland State (18-12) earned a pair of two-point set wins, including a 27-25 showdown in the third, to stake the 2-1 advantage. After hitting over .300 through the first three sets, Portland State was stymied in the final two as UNC's defense held the Vikings to .062 and -.083 to complete the comeback.
Hitting .383 on 47 swings, Harris capped her tournament with a team-high 21 kills and 14 digs. Kailey Jo Ince added 18 kills and seven digs while Huhn chipped in with 11 kills and a season-high matching seven blocks.
Cole finished with a 'double-double' of her own with 54 assists and 10 digs.
2022 Big Sky Volleyball All-Tournament Team
MVP: Makenzie Harris, Northern Colorado
Syd Cole, Northern Colorado
Cece Huhn, Northern Colorado
Makayla Lewis, Portland State
Madison Friebel, Portland State
Lauren Lindseth, Montana State
Kalani Hayes, Sacramento State
After dropping the first set and falling behind 2-1, No. 1-seeded Northern Colorado (22-8) dominated the final two sets of play to advance to the NCAA DI National Championship.
Senior outside hitter Makenzie Harris was named the Big Sky Tournament MVP for the second straight season and was joined by junior setter Syd Cole and senior middle blocker Cece Huhn on the All-Tournament Team.
UNC will learn its fate on Sunday with the NCAA Selection Show that is set to air at 5:30 p.m. MT on ESPNU. The Bears will enter the national championships carrying a school-record 14-match winning streak. After starting the season with a 0-5 record in five-set matches, UNC has evened its mark with five straight wins that went the distance.
Harris and Huhn join senior libero Michaela Boon and graduate outside hitter Kailey Jo Ince as three-time Big Sky Tournament champions after also being part of the title teams in 2019 and 2021.
No. 2-seeded Portland State (18-12) earned a pair of two-point set wins, including a 27-25 showdown in the third, to stake the 2-1 advantage. After hitting over .300 through the first three sets, Portland State was stymied in the final two as UNC's defense held the Vikings to .062 and -.083 to complete the comeback.
Hitting .383 on 47 swings, Harris capped her tournament with a team-high 21 kills and 14 digs. Kailey Jo Ince added 18 kills and seven digs while Huhn chipped in with 11 kills and a season-high matching seven blocks.
Cole finished with a 'double-double' of her own with 54 assists and 10 digs.
2022 Big Sky Volleyball All-Tournament Team
MVP: Makenzie Harris, Northern Colorado
Syd Cole, Northern Colorado
Cece Huhn, Northern Colorado
Makayla Lewis, Portland State
Madison Friebel, Portland State
Lauren Lindseth, Montana State
Kalani Hayes, Sacramento State
Team Stats
PSU
UNC
Kills
62
70
Errors
29
18
Attempts
156
164
Hitting %
.212
.317
Points
75
92
Assists
58
62
Aces
3
8
Blocks
10
14
Game Leaders
Kills
21
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
18
Aces
2
Blocks
4
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballLyndsey Oates Press Conference vs Montana
Sunday, November 02
Lyndsey Oates Press Conference vs Montana State
Friday, October 31
Lyndsey Oates Press Conference vs Colorado
Wednesday, October 29
Lyndsey Oates Post Game Press Conference vs Portland State
Saturday, October 11
