Preview: Sacramento State & Portland State

Thursday, October 26

Greeley, Colo.

6 p.m

University of Northern Colorado

Sacramento State

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10/24/2023 2:18:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

By: Michael High, Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

Sacramento State (15-8, 8-1) at Northern Colorado (10-9, 5-3)
Bank of Colorado Arena – Greeley, Colo.
Thursday, Oct. 26 | 6 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats
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UNC Mobile App on Apple | Google Play

Portland State (12-8, 5-4) at Northern Colorado (10-9, 5-3)
Bank of Colorado Arena, – Greeley, Colo.
Saturday, Oct. 28 | 6 p.m.
ESPN+ | Live Stats
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
UNC Mobile App on Apple | Google Play

SETTING THE SCENE
UNC hosts Sacramento State and Portland State in a pair of pivotal Big Sky Conference matchups, beginning with the Hornets Thursday. It is the first matchup against the top team in the league. Sacramento State enters at 8-1 in league play, one game lead over Weber State, while the Bears trail by two in the loss column at 5-3.

Portland State and UNC met in the last two Big Sky Tournament, with the Bears winning both matchups. The Vikings hold onto the fifth spot in the league standings at 5-4. They defeated UNC on their home court in four sets earlier this season, snapping a four-match losing streak against the Bears.

SPONSORS AND PROMOTIONS
Thursday – Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night.
Saturday – First Responders Night – Sponsored by the Original Roma Pizza on 16th.

SERIES HISTORY – Sacramento State

UNC leads the all-time series 20-15, including 7-3 over the last 10 matches.
- In Greeley, the Bears have a 12-2 mark, including four in succession.

SERIES HISTORY – Portland State

UNC trails 23-20 in the all-time series.
The Bears four-match winning streak ended at Portland State Sept. 23, 2023, with a 3-1 setback.
- UNC defeated the Vikings in the last two seasons in the Big Sky Conference Tournament.
- The Bears claimed a 3-1 win in the 2021 semifinals, before a five-set triumph in the final last season.

HOME COOKING

The Bears have a 47-14 (.770) record at home over the last five seasons.
In Big Sky play, they went 29-4 (.879) between 2019-22, propelling the Bears to three regular-season titles during the stretch.
Heading into the weekend, UNC owns a 3-1 mark in Big Sky play at the Bank this season.

CHASING MILESTONES

OVERALL CAREER RECORDS
1,000 Kills Club
17. Ashley Lichtenberg*, 1,111, 2007-10
18. Joyce Jordahl, 1,071, 1996-99
19. Stacey DeJong, 1,038, 1987-90
20. Makenzie Harris*, 1,025, 2019-present

CAREER ASSISTS
8. Inge Otte, 3,634 1984-87
9. Corinne Chapin*, 2,923, 2002-05
10. Syd Cole*, 2,690, 2020-present

SOLO BLOCKS
7. Alex Kloehn*, 82, 2014-17
8. Julie Colville, 81, 1987-88
9. Kelley Pappenheim, 78, 1984-87
10. Inge Otte, 71, 1984-87
… Cece Huhn, 69, 2019-present

BLOCK ASSISTS
9. Ashley Lichtenberg*, 288, 2007-10
10. Brittany Stockebrand, 284, 1996-99
… Cece Hugh*, 275, 2019-present

TOTAL BLOCKS
5. Andrea Spaustat*, 430, 2011-14
6. Lizzy Rhoads*, 349, 2003-06
7. Cece Huhn*, 344, 2019-present

1,000 Digs Club
23. Tatjana Smith, 1,054, 1992-94
      Sue Pollmiller, 1,054, 1987-88
25. Kortney Lockey*, 1,017, 2015-18
26. Kristi Krom, 1,011, 2002-03
-------------------------------------------------
Michaela Boon, 859, 2019-present

* - played under the current scoring system

D1 SINGLE-SEASON SOLO BLOCKS
1. Alex Kloehn, 37 - 2017
2. Emily O'Neil, 32 - 2017
3. Cece Huhn, 26 – 2022
4. Alex Kloehn, 25 - 2016
5. Brianna Strong, 23 – 2013
    Cece Huhn, 23 – 2023

LAST TIME OUT

Brynn Reines set a career high with a match-leading 16 kills but UNC suffered a four-set loss to Idaho State Friday, Oct. 20.
Reines hit .425 (16-5-26), with five digs.
- She set a career-high with 16 kills.
Syd Cole netted a double-double, dishing out 39 assists, with 14 digs and five kills.
Makenzie Harris totaled 12 kills, nine digs, one solo block and an ace.
Gabi Placide finished with double-digit kills, recording 10, with two digs and one block.
Cece Huhn inked six kills, three digs and one block.
Maddie Davies hit .444, with four kills on nine swings and no errors.

FAN SUPPORT

In the first three matches, Northern Colorado averaged 2,211 fans.
Opening night against No. 3 Stanford produced the largest crowd in program history, with 2,801 fans in attendance Aug. 25.
The next night, 1,941 witnessed the Bears battle No. 10 Kentucky for four sets.
Against Colorado State on Aug. 29., 1,890 fans watched Northern Colorado rally from a 2-1 deficit to defeat the Rams.

OPENING WEEKEND

The largest crowd in program history was on hand for the season opener against No. 3 Stanford, with 2,801 in attendance.
Brynn Reines led the team with 15 kills.
Makenzie Harris tallied the most points (18) and service aces (3).
Syd Cole directed the offense with 65 assists.
Cece Huhn, Gabi Placide and Isabel Bennett tallied 4.0 blocks each.
- Placide registered five kills on 14 swings, with a block solo and a block assist in her collegiate debut.
Bella LePore tallied three digs in her first college match.

CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE

Since moving to DI before the 2006 campaign, Northern Colorado made 14 Big Sky Tournament appearances.
The Bears have the best winning percentage in tournament play at .687 (22-10), with seven championships, the most by any league member over the last 17 seasons. They collected six regular-season titles over that span.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Syd Cole garnered All-American honors after the 2022 season, finishing with 1,325 assists, 271 digs, 78 kills, 50.0 blocks and 29 service aces over 120 sets.
In addition, she earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Region selection, the Big Sky Player of the Year, All-Big Sky First Team, All-Big Sky Tournament Team and Big Sky All-Academic selections.

THE ROSTER

Freshmen Bella LePore, Gabi Placide and Alayna Tessena join 14 returners from the 2022 Big Sky Championship squad.

TICKETS
To purchase tickets, visit uncbears.com/tickets or call 970-351-4849. Tickets can also be purchased at the Campus Commons Ticket Office, Monday-Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.