University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Friday, December 6
Statesboro, Ga.
1 p.m.
University of Northern Colorado
26-7,14-2Big Sky
3
vs
1
App State
18-10,11-3Sun Belt
1
2
3
4
F
Northern Colo.
20
25
25
25
3
App State
25
23
12
22
1
Bennett’s Career Day Propels UNC into NIVC Super 16
12/6/2024 5:15:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
STATESBORO, Ga. – In one of the greatest individual performances in the history of Northern Colorado (26-7) volleyball, Isabel Bennett propelled the Bears (18-10) past App State in the first round of the National Invitational Volleyball Championship at Hanner Fieldhouse Friday.
Bennett tallied a career-high 21 kills on 29 swings, without an error. She set a program record for the most kills, without an error in the NCAA Division I era, bettering the mark by seven swings.
In the first-ever meeting between the two squads, the Mountaineers moved in front with a five-point margin in the opening set. They hit .379 (15-4-29) in the opening frame and held UNC to a .229 hitting percentage 13 kills and five errors on 30 swings.
With the Mountaineers defense focusing on the outside hitters, UNC turned to the middle and ran off victories in the next three games. Maddie Davies combined with Bennett for 32 kills and 12 blocks from the Bears middle blocker position. Davies netted 11 kills and two errors on 23 swings, with four blocks.
In set two, Bennett tallied five kills on eight swings, while Davies tallied five kills on six swings, with no errors from the duo. They put away 10 of 12 attacks, with no miscues in game three. Bennett totaled seven kills on seven attempts.
The Bears tallied 49 successful swings on 114 attacks after the opening stanza, equaling App State's in the entire match total.
UNC posted a .351 hitting percentage in the three sets it won and held the Mountaineers to .162. In danger of falling into a 2-0 hole, the Bears ran off five of the next six points, forcing a timeout by App State at 16-15. UNC opened a two-point advantage, forcing another stoppage at 22-20. The teams traded the next six points and evened the match at 1-1.
The Bears dominated set three, leading wire-to-wire. They closed the match on a 12-3 run, including nine straight points and turned a 13-9 advantage into a 25-12 victory and moved in front 2-1.
In the back-and-forth game four, UNC nudged in front at 18-17 on a Gabi Placide kill. Following a successful attack by Brynn Reines, App State utilized a timeout but it failed to stymie the Bears.
Gabi Placide benefitted the most from the work done by the middles, converting 10 for 20, with one error in the final two games. She tallied 16 kills on 38 swings, with four errors in the match. Brynn Reines registered nine kills, nine digs and two blocks.
Syd Cole handed out 51 assists, with four digs, three blocks and three kills. Donning the libero jersey, Sam Steele led the squad with 16 digs and added two service aces.
UNC faces Georgia Southern at 2 p.m. MT, Saturday in a Super 16 matchup on the Eagles home floor.
Bennett tallied a career-high 21 kills on 29 swings, without an error. She set a program record for the most kills, without an error in the NCAA Division I era, bettering the mark by seven swings.
In the first-ever meeting between the two squads, the Mountaineers moved in front with a five-point margin in the opening set. They hit .379 (15-4-29) in the opening frame and held UNC to a .229 hitting percentage 13 kills and five errors on 30 swings.
With the Mountaineers defense focusing on the outside hitters, UNC turned to the middle and ran off victories in the next three games. Maddie Davies combined with Bennett for 32 kills and 12 blocks from the Bears middle blocker position. Davies netted 11 kills and two errors on 23 swings, with four blocks.
In set two, Bennett tallied five kills on eight swings, while Davies tallied five kills on six swings, with no errors from the duo. They put away 10 of 12 attacks, with no miscues in game three. Bennett totaled seven kills on seven attempts.
The Bears tallied 49 successful swings on 114 attacks after the opening stanza, equaling App State's in the entire match total.
UNC posted a .351 hitting percentage in the three sets it won and held the Mountaineers to .162. In danger of falling into a 2-0 hole, the Bears ran off five of the next six points, forcing a timeout by App State at 16-15. UNC opened a two-point advantage, forcing another stoppage at 22-20. The teams traded the next six points and evened the match at 1-1.
The Bears dominated set three, leading wire-to-wire. They closed the match on a 12-3 run, including nine straight points and turned a 13-9 advantage into a 25-12 victory and moved in front 2-1.
In the back-and-forth game four, UNC nudged in front at 18-17 on a Gabi Placide kill. Following a successful attack by Brynn Reines, App State utilized a timeout but it failed to stymie the Bears.
Gabi Placide benefitted the most from the work done by the middles, converting 10 for 20, with one error in the final two games. She tallied 16 kills on 38 swings, with four errors in the match. Brynn Reines registered nine kills, nine digs and two blocks.
Syd Cole handed out 51 assists, with four digs, three blocks and three kills. Donning the libero jersey, Sam Steele led the squad with 16 digs and added two service aces.
UNC faces Georgia Southern at 2 p.m. MT, Saturday in a Super 16 matchup on the Eagles home floor.
Team Stats
UNC
APP
Kills
62
49
Errors
14
22
Attempts
149
128
Hitting %
.322
.211
Points
80.0
61.0
Assists
54
45
Aces
5
7
Blocks
13
5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
21
Aces
0
Blocks
8
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
MH
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
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