University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Thursday, November 28
Sacramento State
5 p.m.
University of Northern Colorado
25-6,14-2Big Sky
3
vs
2
Weber State
14-15,10-6Big Sky
1
2
3
4
5
F
Weber St.
19
17
25
25
15
2
Northern Colo.
25
25
11
20
17
3
UNC Outlasts WSU in Semifinals
11/28/2024 11:18:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Bears Make Tenth Appearance in BSC Title Match
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Gabi Placide registered a career-high 23 kills and Northern Colorado (25-6, 14-2 Big Sky) needed every one of them in a five-set victory (25-19, 25-17, 11-25, 20-25, 17-15)over Weber State in the Big Sky Conference semifinals at the Nest Thursday.
UNC advanced to the Big Sky Conference Championship for the tenth time, including five appearances in the last six campaigns. The Bears hold a 7-2 record in title matches, including three in their last four. They won the championship in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2019, 2021 and 2022, finishing as the runner-up in 2010 and 2020.
The Bears jumped out to a 2-0 advantage, outhitting the fourth-seeded Wildcats .260-.164. A day after pulling off a reverse sweep over Montana State in the quarterfinals, UNC looked to close out the Wildcats after intermission.
Instead, Weber State hit .423 and limited the Bears to eight kills and six errors on 31 attempts in game three and sliced the deficit to 2-1. Both sides struggled on offense in set four, with UNC tallying 12 kills and seven miscues on 39 attempts, while Weber State netted eight kills and five errors on 38 swings. The Wildcats held a 5-0 advantage in service aces.
Placide completed her second consecutive double-double with 11 digs, three blocks and two assists. Syd Cole netted a double-double with 44 kills, 10 digs, four kills and an ace. Brynn Reines chipped in with 12 kills and four digs, while Alayna Tessena tallied 11 kills and one ace.
A 2-0 run pushed Weber State in front, forcing a timeout by Northern Colorado. Following a third-straight point by the Wildcats, UNC forced the action to Placide. She registered the next five kills for the Bears, with the last pushing UNC in front 15-14.
Following a kill by the Wildcats, Reines and Tessena slammed home back-to-back kills, securing a spot in the championship match for the Bears.
In other action, No. 3 Sacramento State swept No. 2 Idaho State on its home court in the second semifinal.
No. 1 UNC and the Hornets clash at 8 p.m. MT Friday on ESPN+, with the winner earning the Big Sky's automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament.
UNC advanced to the Big Sky Conference Championship for the tenth time, including five appearances in the last six campaigns. The Bears hold a 7-2 record in title matches, including three in their last four. They won the championship in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2019, 2021 and 2022, finishing as the runner-up in 2010 and 2020.
The Bears jumped out to a 2-0 advantage, outhitting the fourth-seeded Wildcats .260-.164. A day after pulling off a reverse sweep over Montana State in the quarterfinals, UNC looked to close out the Wildcats after intermission.
Instead, Weber State hit .423 and limited the Bears to eight kills and six errors on 31 attempts in game three and sliced the deficit to 2-1. Both sides struggled on offense in set four, with UNC tallying 12 kills and seven miscues on 39 attempts, while Weber State netted eight kills and five errors on 38 swings. The Wildcats held a 5-0 advantage in service aces.
Placide completed her second consecutive double-double with 11 digs, three blocks and two assists. Syd Cole netted a double-double with 44 kills, 10 digs, four kills and an ace. Brynn Reines chipped in with 12 kills and four digs, while Alayna Tessena tallied 11 kills and one ace.
A 2-0 run pushed Weber State in front, forcing a timeout by Northern Colorado. Following a third-straight point by the Wildcats, UNC forced the action to Placide. She registered the next five kills for the Bears, with the last pushing UNC in front 15-14.
Following a kill by the Wildcats, Reines and Tessena slammed home back-to-back kills, securing a spot in the championship match for the Bears.
In other action, No. 3 Sacramento State swept No. 2 Idaho State on its home court in the second semifinal.
No. 1 UNC and the Hornets clash at 8 p.m. MT Friday on ESPN+, with the winner earning the Big Sky's automatic bid to the NCAA Volleyball Tournament.
Team Stats
Weber
UNC
Kills
46
59
Errors
16
26
Attempts
147
162
Hitting %
.204
.204
Points
70.0
77.0
Assists
42
55
Aces
14
12
Blocks
10
6
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
23
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballWomen's Walk Recap 2025
Wednesday, July 30
VB vs. Portland State
Thursday, November 15
VB vs. Idaho State
Saturday, November 03
VB vs. Weber State
Thursday, November 01
