Bears open UNC Classic with Sweep

Thursday, September 15

Greeley, Colo.

6 p.m. MT

University of Northern Colorado

5-4,0-0Big Sky

Tarleton State

8-4,0-0WAC

Tarleton St.

Northern Colo.

Photo by: Dean Popejoy

9/15/2022 8:25:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score ESPN+Tickets Photo Gallery

By: By Jason Dormeyer

UNC Athletics · VB Postgame vs. WVU/CSUB: Lyndsey Oates
2022 Northern Colorado Classic Schedule
Thursday, Sept. 15
6 p.m.	Northern Colorado def. Tarleton State, 3-0
Friday, Sept 16
10 a.m.	Cal Poly vs. Santa Clara
3 p.m.	Santa Clara vs. Tarleton State
6 p.m.	Northern Colorado vs. Cal Poly
Saturday, Sept. 17
12 p.m.	Tarleton State vs. Cal Poly
6 p.m.	Northern Colorado vs. Santa Clara
Presented by:

GREELEY, Colo.—Returning to the Bank of Colorado Arena after two weeks on the road, Northern Colorado posted its third sweep of the season with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-20) win over Tarleton State on Thursday.

Jumping out to a 14-2 lead in the opening set, Northern Colorado (5-4) blitzed Tarleton State (8-4) from the first serve. With the offense rolling, the defense joined in by holding the Texans to a match-low .086 hit rate in the first en route to the eight-point spread.

The teams traded points early in the second before a pair of combo blocks by Isabel Bennett and Kailey Jo Ince sparked a 4-0 run to break things open for the Bears and stake a 2-0 overall lead.

The Texans managed a one-point lead in the initial moments of the third only to see a 14-2 spree by the home side doom ny chances at extending the match.

Leading the attack, seniors Rachel Hickman and Cece Huhn combined to record 24 kills on just 39 swings to boost the Bears to a .322 conversion rate on offense. Hickman led all players with 14 kills and was set up by junior setter Syd Cole, who tallied 40 assists in the truncated match.

The Northern Colorado Classic continues on Friday morning with a California clash between Cal Poly and Santa Clara. UNC will return to the court at 6 p.m. to face Cal Poly.

Tickets
Tickets for all regular-season volleyball matches are available via the UNC Athletics app, online at UNCBears.com/tickets or by calling (970) 351-4849. Tickets can also be purchased in person by visiting the Ticket Office in Campus Commons from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

NORTHERN COLORADO CLASSIC TEAMS

Northern Colorado
Northern Colorado enters the 2022 season as the reigning Big Sky regular season and tournament champions. The Bears are 4-4 this season with non-conference wins over Colorado State University and the University of North Carolina. UNC is led by returning All-Big Sky players Rachel Hickman and Kailey Jo Ince. Hickman is averaging 2.28 kills per set while Ince leads the team at 3.94 kills per set. Senior Makenzie Harris, the 2021 Big Sky Tournament MVP, is adding 3.41 kills per set for second on the team. Junior setter Syd Cole is orchestrating the offense and leading the Big Sky Conference with 10.50 assists per set.

Cal Poly
UNC is 1-1 all-time against Cal Poly with the most recent tilt in 2019 when the Mustangs came away with a 3-2 win. Cal Poly has lost seven straight matches to open the year with two setbacks via sweeps and two in five-set affairs. The Mustangs are led by the attacking duo of Maia Dvoracek (3.32 kps) and Tommi Stockham (3.19 kps). A redshirt freshman, the team's primary setter Emme Bullis averages 8.54 assists per set.

Santa Clara
The Broncos sport a 3-6 record in 2022 with four straight losses entering the weekend. In the only previous meeting, Santa Clara defeated the Bears, 3-1, during the 2019 season. Senior outside hitter Julia Sangiacomo not only leads the team, but paces the West Coast Conference with 4.61 kills per set, a rate good for No. 13 in NCAA DI.

Tarleton State
Thursday's match will be the first contest between the two teams. The Texans will arrive in Colorado with an 8-3 record after recording a 3-0 win over Big Sky's University of Idaho in their most recent outing. The Texans feature four different players averaging at least two kills per set: Grayson Schirpik (3.16 kps), Breanna McDonough (2.34 kps), Ailie Hair (2.32 kps), and Megan Haynes (2.28 kps).