Bears Defeat Rams in Five-Set Match

Tuesday, September 2

Greeley, Colo.

6 p.m. MT

University of Northern Colorado

2-1,0-0Big Sky

Colorado State

1-2,0-0Mountain West

Colorado St.

Northern Colo.

9/2/2025 9:12:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Elian Soto, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. — In front of a packed and energetic crowd at Bank of Colorado Arena, the Northern Colorado Bears delivered a statement win on their home court, outlasting in-state rival Colorado State in a dramatic five-set showdown. The thrilling match ended 3–2 in favor of the Bears, with a decisive 15–12 fifth-set victory that capped off one of the most exciting contests of the young season.

After splitting the first two sets and then dropping the fourth, the Bears faced an uphill battle with momentum leaning toward the Rams. However, UNC showed tremendous grit and resilience, rallying in the third set to stay alive and then locking in during the fifth to seal the win.

The final set was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading points early. Northern Colorado managed to grab an early lead and never let go, fending off a late CSU push to secure the win and spark a loud celebration from the home crowd.

It was a complete team effort, with several Bears stepping up in clutch moments. Sophomore outside hitter Alayna Tessena led the way notching 15 kills — her second match in double digits. Isabel Bennett added 9 kills of her own, while setter Mia Liddiard orchestrated the offense, finishing 46 assists.

Head Coach Lyndsey Oates praised her team's resilience and emphasized the importance of an in-state win. "It means a lot — you're playing for pride when it's an in-state match up, especially for our Colorado girls," Oates said post game. "We love to recruit from Colorado, and these matches always mean a little more. One of our goals is to win the state, and this was our first chance."

The victory marks a pivotal early-season moment for Northern Colorado, giving them a boost of confidence heading into the next stretch of non-conference play. The Bears will now turn their focus to a challenging road trip, as they head to Provo to face No. 18-ranked Bringham Young University and compete in four matches at the BYU Classic.

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