UNC Volleyball Sweeps Denver on Thursday Night

Thursday, September 17

Greeley, Colo.

6 p.m. MT

University of Northern Colorado

3-6,0-0Big Sky

Denver

7-4,0-0WCC

Team	1	2	3	Final F
Denver	22	21	20	0
Northern Colo.	25	25	25	3

Jesus Ayala | UNC Athletics

9/17/2026 8:13:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Elian Soto, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. - Northern Colorado volleyball earned a dominant in-state victory Thursday night, sweeping Denver 3-0 (25-22, 25-21, 25-20) inside Bank of Colorado Arena.

The Bears controlled the match from start to finish, overcoming the Pioneers in each of the three sets. UNC finished the night hitting .356 as a team, including a .400 clip in the third set, while holding Denver to a .266 hitting percentage.

Gillian Walton led the Bears offensively with 19 kills on 28 attacks, hitting an impressive .500 for the match. Alayna Tessena added 13 kills while hitting .345, while Summer Snead contributed six kills on 18 attacks without committing an error.

Nerea Alvarez Jorge orchestrated the UNC offense with 38 assists while adding six kills on eight attacks for a .625 hitting percentage. Bella LePore added a team-high 14 digs, while Leila Ballard and Tessena each contributed eight and six digs.

The Bears opened the match with a strong offensive performance, hitting .364 in the first set to take a 25-22 victory. UNC continued its momentum in the second, hitting .308 and closing out the set 25-21. The Bears saved their best offensive showing for the third set, hitting .400 to complete the sweep with a 25-20 win.

UNC's defense also made its presence felt throughout the match, collecting 50 digs while limiting Denver to 42. The Bears also recorded seven total blocks and forced four Denver receiving errors.

With the victory, Northern Colorado improves to 3-6 on the season.

ON DECK: The Bears continue tournament play Friday at Bank of Colorado Arena, facing Air Force at 6 p.m. MT before closing the tournament Saturday against Utah at 12 p.m. MT.

BEAR ATTACKERS CLUB: The Bear Attackers Club plays a vital role in the success of UNC Volleyball. Contributions enhance the overall student-athlete experience by providing elevated nutrition, high-quality equipment, and travel opportunities that support competitive performances throughout the season. These investments directly empower our student-athletes as they prepare for every match, ensuring the Bears are equipped to perform at their best.

Give to the Bear Attackers Club today!

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