Volleyball Preview: vs. Colorado, Charlotte and Xavier

Thursday, August 31

Greeley, Colo.

6 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

Colorado

Tickets

8/30/2023 4:09:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

By: Michael High, Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. – University of Northern Colorado concludes its first homestand against Colorado at Bank of Colorado Arena Thursday. First serve is set for 6 p.m.

The Bears travel to Boulder, Colo., Friday and Saturday for the Colorado Classic. They open the event against Charlotte at 4 p.m. Friday, before concluding the weekend against Xavier Saturday at 3 p.m.

LAST TIME OUT

The Bears rallied to defeat Colorado State in five sets at Bank of Colorado Arena Tuesday.
It is the third-consecutive win for Northern Colorado in the series.
Isabel Bennett posted a career-high eight kills.
Syd Cole set a career-high with six aces and her seven kills equaled her career-high.
Makenzie Harris established new career highs in blocks (5) and block assists (4).
Gabi Placide tallied 10 kills, her first double-digit kill performance in her career.
Brynn Reines netted 11 kills, a career high.

Colorado enters with a 2-1 after dropping its season opener against UNLV 3-1 at the Buffs Invitational.
The Buffaloes swept Campbell and North Texas in their final two matches of the event.
Lexi Hadrych paces the squad with 41 kills, while Skyy Howard controls the net with 17 of the teams 25 blocks.
Morgan Riddle (29) leads four Buffaloes with double-digit digs.
Maya Tabron is a sharpshooter from the service line with a team-high five aces.

SERIES HISTORY

UNC leads the all-time series 5-4.
The Bears are 1-3 in the Division I error, losing the last three contests.
Colorado claimed a 3-1 victory in the last meeting Sept. 11, 2021, in Boulder.

SCOUTING THE 49ers

Charlotte went 3-0 in the Charlotte Invitational to open the season.
The 49ers swept Charleston Southern to open the campaign.
They finished off Elon in four sets before a 3-2 triumph over Coastal Carolina to close the event.
Four members of the team recorded at least 25 kills, with Camryn Upshaw leading the way with 34.
Lara Kretschmer tallied 21 of the team's 39 blocks opening weekend.
Sophie Whalen dug out 61 attacks over the first three contests, nearly a third of the team's total.
Esten Clay dropped in a team-high six aces from the service line.

SERIES HISTORY

This is the first-ever meeting between the two squads.

SCOUTING THE MUSKETEERS

Xavier went 3-0 at the Cincinnati Tournament to open the season.
The Musketeers defeated Indiana State and host Cincinnati 3-1, before sweeping Alabama State.
Emma Grace led the offense with 46 kills, while equaling Delaney Hogan with four aces.
Stevie Wolf tallied 52 digs, 15 more than the next highest on the squad.
Eight different Musketeers notched at least one block, with Sarah Stevens top of the pack at four.

SERIES HISTORY

This is the first-ever meeting between the two squads.

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.
On Tuesday, 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 Division I before the 2006 campaign, Northern Colorado made14 Big Sky Tournament appearances.
The Bears own 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 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.

MATCH PROMOTION/SPONSOR
Thursday is round two of Win the State Week and it is sponsored by Pepsi.

TICKETS
To purchase tickets, visit uncbears.com/tickets or call 970-35104849.
Tickets can also be purchased at the Campus Commons Ticket Office, Monday-Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.