Bears Past First Road Test

Tuesday, September 3

Fort Collins, Colo.

6 p.m.

University of Northern Colorado

Colorado State

9/3/2024 10:59:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Final Match Book (PDF)Updated Season Stats

By: Michael High, Assistant Athletics Director for Strategic Communications

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Maddie Davies matched a career-high 14 kills in Northern Colorado's four-set victory (25-23, 23-25, 25-22, 25-23) over Colorado State at Moby Arena Tuesday.

The Bears (2-1) knocked off the rival Rams (0-3) for the fourth-straight season, behind a balanced attack. Alayna Tessena inked 13 kills, while Brynn Reines, Gabi Placide and Isabel Bennett added eight each. Syd Cole handed out 39 of the team's 46 assists.

The teams traded 25-23 victories in the first two sets and went to the locker room even at 1-all.

In game one, the teams traded the lead four times, with 14 ties including at 22-all. Northern Colorado scored three of the final four points and grabbed the early advantage.

Facing their largest deficit of the contest at 21-14 in set two, the Bears utilized a 9-3 run and closed to within one at 24-23, before a kill by the home side knotted the tilt.

The Bears regained control of the match with a 25-22 triumph in the first game after intermission. An attack error by UNC evened game three for the 14^th and final time. Davies and Placide slammed home winners on the next two volleys en route to a 6-3 spurt to close the set.

A 9-4 run by UNC turned a 14-14 tie into a 23-18 advantage in game four. Colorado State ran off five straight points to pull even at 23-all, attempting to force a fifth and deciding game. Bennett took matters into her own hands, slamming home a pair of winners to seal the triumph.

Head Coach Lyndsey Oates
Thoughts on tonight: Tonight was ugly. It was really ugly but I will take it. Sometimes we are going to have to win ugly. My message to the team afterward was to enjoy it. It did not feel comfortable, with no flow to the match, mostly because of our service errors. We will have to win games when we don't play our best.

Depth of lineup: Annette came in and gave us a good relief. Bella and the back row played well and the depth showed. It was the first time we used that and we had to try to use some different rotations, so I like that we are being tested.

Moving forward: We have to serve better, 19 service errors, which might be a record for us. We are trying to serve aggressively but we were wild tonight.

Sophomore Outside Hitter Alayna Tessena
Thoughts on Tonight's Match: It feels great to get a win over another Colorado team. Syd was feeding everyone and kept mixing it up. We know we can trust each other and we have that great chemistry.

Series and Team Notes

UNC trails the all-time series 9-24, with wins in the last four meetings.
The Bears won the last two matches in Fort Collins.
UNC played its third straight four-set match to start the campaign.

Inside the Numbers

UNC outhit the Rams .207-202.
The Bears dropped in nine service aces and allowed seven.
Both teams struggled from the service line, combining for 32 errors.
- UNC tallied 19 and Colorado State committed 13.

Individual Notes

Maddie Davies reached double-digit kills for the third-straight contest.
- She added three block assists.
Alayna Tessena tallied a season-high 13 kills, with three digs and one assist.
Syd Cole tallied her first double-double with 39 assists, 13 digs, four blocks and three assists.
Brynn Reines dropped in eight kills, with six digs.
Isabel Bennett netted eight kills and five blocks.
Gabi Placide recorded eight kills and three block assists.
Sam Steele tallied 13 digs.

Up Next
The Bears host the Ole Miss and Rider in the UNC Invitational Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 5-7 at Bank of Colorado Arena. UNC and Ole Miss open the event at 11 a.m. Thursday. The Rebels and Rider start Friday's doubleheader at 11 a.m., with the Bears and Broncs facing off at 6 p.m. UNC opens the final day with a rematch against Rider at 11 a.m. The Bears and Ole Miss conclude the event at 6 p.m.