UNC Heads to Montana for Two BSC Matches

Thursday, November 2

Bozeman, Mont.

7 p.m

University of Northern Colorado

Montana State

10/31/2023 11:43:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

By: Michael High, Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

UNC embarks on a four-match road trip, beginning Thursday at Montana State.
- It is the final four matches away from the Bank on the 2023 regular season schedule.
UNC enters the weekend with multiple scenarios to clinch a spot in next month's Big Sky Volleyball Championship.
The Bears need two wins, two losses by Northern Arizona or any combination to lock up one of the eight seeds available.
Montana State is third in the Big Sky at 7-3, one game ahead of the Bears and a half-game behind Weber State.
- The Bobcats secure a tournament spot with one win.

Montana sits in seventh place in the league at 4-6, one and a half games behind Idaho State and a half-game ahead of Eastern Washington.
- With three weekends left in the regular season, the Grizzlies host Northern Arizona Thursday, with the teams separated by two games.

SERIES HISTORY – Montana State

UNC is 32-6 against the Bobcats all-time, including 27-3 over the last 30 meetings, including 7-3 in the last 10.
Montana State defeated UNC 3-2 in Greeley Oct. 7.

SERIES HISTORY – Montana

The Bears defeated Montana 3-1 Oct. 5, improving to 26-9 in the all-time series.
With the victory, UNC extended its winning streak against the Grizzlies to 17.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

The Bears close the season with four of their final six matches away from the Bank.
UNC is 2-3 in true road games this season.
Since 2019, the Bears have a 32-17 (.653) mark, including 29-8 (.784) in Big Sky play.

CHASING MILESTONES
OVERALL CAREER RECORDS
1,000 Kills Club
17. Ashley Lichtenberg*, 1,111, 2007-10
18. Joyce Jordahl, 1,071, 1996-99
19. Makenzie Harris*, 1,047, 2019-present

CAREER ASSISTS
8. Inge Otte, 3,634 1984-87
9. Corinne Chapin*, 2,923, 2002-05
10. Syd Cole*, 2,752, 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, 883, 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

UNC sailed past Portland State in straight sets Saturday, Oct. 28, at Bank of Colorado Arena.
UNC Kills Leader: Makenzie Harris (15)
UNC Assists Leader: Syd Cole (31)
UNC Digs Leader: Michaela Boon (13)
UNC Blocks Leader: Isabel Bennett (3)
UNC Ace Leader: Syd Cole and Makenzie Harris (2)

Harris recorded a double-double, hitting .333 (15-3-36), with 10 digs and two aces.
- She moved into 19th on the Bears all-time kills list with 1,047.
Cole dished out 31 aces, Placide hit .333 (12-5-21), with one block assist.
Isabel Bennet notched 13 kills, with four digs and three blocks.
Maddie Davies converted 60% of her swings, with six kills on 10 attempts and no errors.
Brynn Reines chipped in with eight kills and five assists.

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