Bears Open Title Defense Wednesday

Wednesday, November 22

Greeley, Colo.

7 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

Eastern Washington

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11/21/2023 5:11:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

By: Michael High, Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

No. 7 Eastern Washington (12-16, 6-10) at No. 2 Northern Colorado (17-10, 12-4)
Bank of Colorado Arena – Greeley, Colo.
Wednesday, Nov. 22 | 7 p.m.
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SETTING THE SCENE

UNC looks for a three-peat in the Big Sky Conference Tournament, winning the last two titles.
The Bears own a .722 (26-10) winning percentage in 17 Big Sky Championships, including 10-5 in opening round matches.
UNC rides a five-match winning streak in the opening round into Wednesday's contest with the Eagles.
The Bears are looking to join Sacramento State, Idaho and Idaho State to win three straight championships.
UNC ranks second all-time in Big Sky titles with seven, while no other school has more than two since the Bears joined the league in 2006.

SERIES HISTORY – Eastern Washington

The Bears own a 29-10 advantage in the all-time series against Eastern Washington, including a season sweep in 2023.
UNC enters without losing a set in the last five meetings.
The Bears own a 17-3 mark in the last 20 meetings, including 12-straight over the Eagles last faced the Eagles in the conference tournament Nov. 18, 2021, a 3-0 victory in Ogden, Utah.

TEACHER VS. STUDENT

Eastern Washington head coach Jonn Haruguchi served as UNC head coach Lyndsey Oates' associate head coach before taking the Eagles job March 21, 2022.
Oates has a 4-0 mark over Haruguchi, including two sweeps over the past two seasons.

PAST CHAMPIONS
9 – Sacramento State – 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
7 – Northern Colorado – 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2019, 2021, 2022
6 – Portland State – 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 2008, 2010
4 – Idaho 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995
4 – Idaho State – 1986, 1987, 1990, 2013
3 – Northern Arizona – 1999, 2015, 2018
2 – Eastern Washington – 1989, 2001
2 – North Dakota – 2016, 2017 (no longer in conference)
2 – Weber State – 2018, 2020 (played in spring 2021)
1 – Cal State Northridge – 1996 (no longer in conference)
1 – Montana - 1991

CHASING MILESTONES

OVERALL CAREER RECORDS

1,000 Kills Club
9.   Andrea Spaustat*, 1,247, 2011-14
10. Kortney Lockey*, 1,237, 2015-18
11. Kenzie Shreeve*, 1,230, 2006-09
12. Terri McNair, 1,228, 1992-95
13. Taylor Muff*, 1149, 2017-20
14. Makenzie Harris*, 1,135, 2019-present

CAREER ASSISTS
8. Inge Otte, 3,634 1984-87
9. Syd Cole*, 2,979, 2020-present

SOLO BLOCKS
6. Joyce Jordahl, 89. 1996-99
7. Alex Kloehn*, 82, 2014-17
8. Julie Colville, 81, 1987-88
9. Kelley Pappenheim, 78, 1984-87
   Cece Huhn, 78, 2019-present

BLOCK ASSISTS
4. Joyce Jordahl, 353 - 1996-99
5. Lizzy Rhoads*, 305 - 2003-06
6. Stacey DeJong, 302 - 1987-90
7. Danelle Angus*, 300 - 2001-04
8. Cece Huhn*, 295, 2019-present

TOTAL BLOCKS
5. Andrea Spaustat*, 430, 2011-14
6. Cece Huhn*, 371, 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, 984, 2019-present

* - played under the current scoring system

D1 SINGLE-SEASON

SERVICE ACES
8. Taylor Muff, 36 - 2018
      Andrea Spaustat, 36 - 2013
10. Taylor Els, 34 – 2017

… Michaela Boon, 32 – 2023
… Makenzie Harris, 31 – 2023
… Syd Cole, 28 – 2023

SOLO BLOCKS
1. Alex Kloehn, 37 - 2017
2. Emily O'Neil, 32 - 2017
Cece Huhn, 32 – 2023
4. Cece Huhn, 26 – 2022

TEAM MARKS

SERVICE ACES
1. 2019 Team, 213 – 34 matches
2. 2021 Team. 190 – 31 matches
3. 2022 Team, 174 – 31 matches
4. 2018 Team, 166 – 29 matches
5. 2012 Team, 160 - 35 matches
6. 2023 Team, 137 – 25 matches

SOLO BLOCKS
3.   2013 Team, 66 – 31 matches
4.   2019 Team, 61 – 34 matches
5.   2022 Team, 58 – 31 matches
6.   2015 Team, 57 – 30 matches
7.   2021 Team, 56 – 31 matches
      2016 Team, 56 – 29 matches
9.   2006 Team, 55 – 29 matches
10. 2023 Team, 54 – 25 matches

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