UNC Sweeps Idaho State

Thursday, November 16

Greeley, Colo.

6 p.m

University of Northern Colorado

16-10,11-4Big Sky

Idaho State

8-18,6-9Big Sky

Idaho St.

Northern Colo.

11/16/2023 10:31:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Final Match Book (PDF)Updated Season Stats Updated Season Stats - BSC Only

By: Michael High, Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado dominated Idaho State 25-14, 25-16, 25-17 Thursday at Bank of Colorado Arena.

Makenzie Harris led the way with 13 kills, while Gabi Placide notched 11. Syd Cole netted her sixth double-double of the season with 29 assists and 11 digs.

The Bears trailed twice in the first two sets. In game one, Placide slammed home her 200th kill of the season on her first swing, putting her side up 2-1. UNC built a 13-2 cushion before the teams split the final 24 points and giving the home side a 1-0 advantage.

In the second frame, Idaho State claimed the opening point but that was the last lead of the game. Isabel Bennet and Harris vaulted the Bears in front on back-to-back winners. UNC doubled the visitors at 10-5 before allowing the Bengals to close the gap to 15-11. A 5-2 spurt after the media timeout opened the gap to 20-15, providing the Bears the cushion needed to grab a 2-0 edge at intermission.

Following the break, UNC began slow and found itself in a 10-10 draw. Brynn Reines' kill handed the Bears the final lead of the contest as they ran off 15 of the final 22 points.

With one match left in league play for each team, Sacramento State (12-3) holds a one-game lead over UNC (11-4), Weber State (11-4) and Montana State (11-4).

The winner of Saturday's match between UNC and Weber State earns a share of the regular-season title if Sacramento State falls to Montana. Montana claims a share of the championship with a home win over Portland State and a Sacramento State defeat.

Portland State's loss at Montana locked the Vikings into fifth place, guaranteeing UNC, Sacramento State, Montana State and Weber State hold the top four spots.

UNC STARTERS: Isabel Bennett, Syd Cole, Makenzie Harris, Cece Huhn, Gabi Placide, Brynn Reines and libero, Michaela Boon

UNC LEADERS:
UNC Kills Leader: Makenzie Harris (13)
UNC Assists Leader: Syd Cole (29)
UNC Digs Leader: Michaela Boon (14)
UNC Blocks Leader: Cece Huhn (3)
UNC Ace Leader: Syd Cole and Brynn Reines (2)

TEAM RECORDS SERIES NOTES:

UNC improved to 16-10, including 11-4 in Big Sky action, while the Bengals fell to 8-18, 6-9.
The Bears lead the all-time series 26-15, including 7-4 over the last 10 matches.
Both sides won on their home floor in 2023, with Idaho State claiming a 3-1 victory Oct. 27, in Pocatello, Idaho.
UNC extended its winning streak over the Tigers at home to four.

TEAM NOTES

The Bears improved to 6-1 over the second half of the league slate.
They improved to 3-0 in the second meeting against league foes that defeated the Bears in the first meeting.
UNC outhit the Bengals .300 (47-14-110) to .103 (24-14-97).
The Bears blocked five attempts, while Idaho State tallied six.
UNC held a 52-35 advantage in digs and 5-3 at the service line.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Harris hit .278, with 13 kills and three errors on 36 swings.
- Her 1,113 career kills rank 17th on the Bears' all-time kills list.
- She added three digs and one block.
Cole tallied her sixth double-double of the season with 29 assists and 11 digs, adding two service aces and one kill.
Placide tallied 11 kills and hit .320, with four digs and two blocks.
- The 11 kills upped her season total to 210.
Boon registered 14 digs, totaling 956 in her career, with two assists and a service ace.
- Her 31 service aces pace the squad, three off the 10th-highest single-season total in the program's DI era.
Bennett converted eight of her 13 swings, with two errors, recording a .462 hitting percentage, and one block.
Huhn moved into ninth on the school's all-time block assists list, after rejecting three attacks and recording number 289 in her career.
- She hit .455 (7-2-11) with one dig.
Bella LePore chipped in with seven digs, while Mia Liddiard added one.

UP NEXT
UNC closes the regular season Saturday at 6 p.m. against Weber State at Bank of Colorado Arena. 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.

BIG SKY CHAMPIONSHIP
The Bears host the 2023 Big Sky Conference Volleyball Championship at Bank of Colorado Arena Wednesday–Friday, Nov. 22–24. Tickets are now available at the Campus Commons Ticket Office, Monday-Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.