Bears Blank Beacons in NIVC Opener

Thursday, November 30

Greeley, Colo.

6 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

18-11,12-4Big Sky

Valparaiso

18-15,10-8MVC

Valparaiso

Northern Colo.

11/30/2023 11:27:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Final Match Book (PDF)Updated Season Stats Match Highlights Postmatch Presser

By: Michael High, Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. – Northern Colorado opened its 2023 National Invitational Volleyball Championship with a sweep of Valparaiso at Bank of Colorado Arena Thursday.

Brynn Reines led three Bears in double-digit kills, totaling 12. Makenzie Harris added 11, while Gabi Placide converted 10 of her 16 swings.

Syd Cole quarterbacked the offense, handing out 36 of the team's 39 assists.

Michaela Boon registered a match-high 11 digs, becoming the 27th player in program history to surpass 1,000 in their career. Kristi Krom sits two digs ahead of Boon for 26th on the all-time list at 1,011, while Kortney Locke posted 1,017 from 2017-18.

HOW IT HAPPENED
UNC fell behind 13-5 in the opening set before clawing back to within three at 18-15. Valpo held the Bears at bay, scoring five of the next nine points and closing two within two of securing the early advantage at 23-19. Cole sparked a 5-0 run with a kill, followed by a pair of aces and a kill from Harris and a Reines kill moved Northern Colorado to set point. A service error forced extra points at 24-all. Reines slammed home the first opportunity and Harris finished off the first frame.

Game two opened similarly but the Bears found their stride earlier. After falling behind 5-0, Northern Colorado continued to trail 10-6, when Harris sparked a 10-0 run, moving the Bears in front by four. Harris recorded one kill and three aces at the service line during the spurt. Cece Huhn added a kill, while Reines tallied three. The visitors contributed a pair of unforced errors. The Beacons closed within two on four separate occasions, but a block by Maddie Davies handed UNC a 2-0 edge at intermission.

The Bears ran off 10 straight points for the second time in as many sets, building a 14-4 cushion in the final stanza. Davies ended the contest when she slammed home match point.

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

UNC LEADERS:
UNC Kills Leader: Brynn Reines (12)
UNC Assists Leader: Syd Cole (36)
UNC Digs Leader: Michaela Boon (11)
UNC Blocks Leader: Maddie Davies and Cece Huhn (3)
UNC Ace Leader: Makenzie Harris (5)

TEAM RECORDS SERIES NOTES:

UNC improved to 18-11 on the season, while the Beacons ended their season at 18-15.
The Bears won the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
UNC improved to 1-1 all-time in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship.

INSIDE THE BOX

UNC outhit the Beacons .409-.221.
- The Bears recorded their second-highest hitting percentage of the season.
- UNC hit .353 in the first set, its lowest match tally.
The Bears blocked seven attacks, while Valpo registered three.
UNC recorded nine service aces and allowed five.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Reines finished with 12 kills, two aces and two digs.
Harris tallied 11 kills, five digs and five service aces.
- Her 384 kills this season rank 10th all-time in the Division I era.
- She moved into eighth in the single-season Division I era with 36 aces on the season.
Placide hit .438, with 10 kills on 16 swings, with three errors and added three blocks.
- She upped her season total to 232 kills in her rookie campaign.
Huhn netted five kills, two blocks, including one block solo and one ace.
- With the block solo, Huhn moved into a tie for seventh on the all-time program list with 82.
- Her 36 solo blocks this season trails Alex Kloehn's (2018) single-season mark by one.
Cole added four kills, six digs and two blocks with her 36 assists.
Boon chipped in three assists with the 11 digs.
Davies tallied three blocks and two kills.

UP NEXT
UNC takes on Wyoming in round two of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship at Bank of Colorado Arena at 6 p.m. Friday. The Cowgirls defeated South Dakota 3-1 in the first match Thursday. The winner advances to the quarterfinals next week. 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.