Bears Defeat Omaha

Thursday, September 14

Greeley, Colo.

6 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

4-5,0-0Big Sky

Omaha

0-8,0-0Summit League

Omaha

Northern Colo.

9/14/2023 10:51:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

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UNC Earns Five-Set Win on Day One of Hampton Inn & Suites UNC Classic

By: Michael High, Assistant Director for Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. – University of Northern Colorado closed day one of the Hampton Inn & Suites Northern Colorado Classic with a five-set triumph (25-21, 25-20, 17-25, 19-25, 15-11) over Omaha at Bank of Colorado Thursday.

Makenzie Harris led four Bears in double-digit kills with 16, while Gabi Placide tallied 12. Isabel Bennett and Cece Huhn chipped in with 10 each. Donning the libero jersey, Bella LePore paced the team with 14 digs and Annette Baker totaled 10. Syd Cole directed the offense, dishing out 49 assists.

UNC STARTERS: Annette Baker, Isabel Bennett, Syd Cole, Makenzie Harris, Cece Huhn, Gabi Placide and Bella LePore

HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: Northern Colorado grabbed the lone lead change on an attack error, moving in front 2-1. The Bears built their largest lead of the game at 21-16 on another miscue by the Mavericks. Following a timeout by Omaha, UNC closed out the match, winning four of the final nine points.

Set 2: Trailing 17-16, Bennett delivered back-to-back kills, sparking a 6-0 run to pull ahead 22-17. Omaha closed to within four at 24-20 before an unforced miscue at the service line closed out the game and giving UNC a 2-0 advantage.

Set 3: Knotted 11-11, the Mavericks utilized a 7-3 victory, building an 18-14 cushion en route to the eight-point victory. Omaha hit .391 in the game, its highest in the match.

Set 4: The Mavericks hit .242 in the frame, while holding UNC to its lowest hitting percentage of the match at .161. Omaha jumped out to a 7-0 advantage and led wire-to-wire. Back-to-back kills by Placide trimmed the margin to 8-6 but four-consecutive points pushed the gap back out to six. A kill from Huhn sliced the lead to 20-18 before Omaha forced a fifth and deciding set with a 5-1 spurt.

Set 5: UNC rattled of seven-straight points, flipping a 9-6 deficit into a 13-9 advantage. Placide answered an Omaha kill with one of her own, nudging the Bears to match point at 14-10. Following an unforced error by UNC, Harris secured the victory with a successful attack.

UNC LEADERS:
UNC Kills Leader: Makenzie Harris (16)
UNC Assists Leader: Syd Cole (49)
UNC Digs Leader: Bella LePore (14)
UNC Blocks Leader: Isabel Bennett, Cece Huhn (4)
UNC Ace Leader: Baker, Cole, Harris and LePore (1)

TEAM RECORDS SERIES NOTES:

UNC improved to 4-5, while Omaha fell to 0-8.
The Bears lead the all-time series 25-10.

TEAM NOTES

UNC outhit the Mavericks .281-.201.
The Bears tallied 11 blocks, while Omaha totaled nine.
UNC dropped in four aces, while surrendering 12.

UP NEXT:
UNC returns to the friendly confines of Bank of Colorado Arena for the day two of the Hampton Inn & Suites UNC Classic Sept. 15 against Bradley at 6 p.m. Tickets are free courtesy of the Haefeli Foundation.

Omaha and Wichita State take the floor at 3 p.m.

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.