OGDEN, Utah – Oh how sweet it is!
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For the sixth time in program history, Northern Colorado Volleyball won the Big Sky Tournament title. The Bears outlasted Weber State in a thrilling five-set affair, 3-2 (30-28, 21-25, 14-25, 25-22, 15-8).
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Fans couldn't have been more entertained by the first set.
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Syd Cole had the offensive purring, setting up
Rachel Hickman and
Kailey Jo Ince six times apiece with
Lauren Strain and
Makenzie Harris close behind at four kills each.
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Each team staved off set point after set point as the set drifted into extra points.
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Four separate times Northern Colorado held off a Wildcats set-point. Ultimately it was Ince's sixth kill of the set and
Cece Huhn's massive solo block that gave the Bears the important 30-28 win.
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The two squads traded body blows in both the second and third sets. While Harris continued to rack up the kills, WSU hit north of .300 in both sets, taking the lead 2-1.
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Oates and Company weren't about to let a chance at the NCAA Tournament slip through their fingers, though.
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Suddenly, UNC was running down every Weber State attack in sight.
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While
Laura Katarzynski stacked up a 21-dig performance, it was Ince, Harris, Cole and
Kyndall Feather's added effort that gave Northern Colorado new life in sets three and four.
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On the evening, the Bears dialed up 107 digs, setting a new Division I record for any match.
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Harris and Ince led the way with 22 apiece, both career-highs. Katarzynski turned in 21, Feather had 17 and Cole also secured a career-best 17.
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Overcoming eight early errors, Harris found new form in the fourth and fifth sets.
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Throughout the next two sets, Harris connected on 13 kills, including six in the fifth set along with only one error.
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The Eaton, Colorado native tallied a career-high 23 kills.
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After closing out the fourth set, the Bears put the pedal to the metal to begin the fifth. Hickman and Harris both connected early to jump out to a 3-0 lead.
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While Weber State pushed back to tie it at four, that all changed with
Kyndall Feather at the service line. Four straight points, all
Makenzie Harris kills, doubled up the Wildcats.
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With the finish line in sight, Northern Colorado never wavered. Inevitably, the Bears closed out the fifth for its sixth Big Sky Tournament title since joining the conference in 2006.
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What They Said
Head coach,Â
Lyndsey Oates
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Games NotesÂ
- Makenzie Harris secured career-highs in kills (23) and digs (22).
- Syd Cole grabbed career-highs in assists (69) and digs (16).
- Northern Colorado set a new program record for digs in a single match with 107.
- Kailey Jo Ince (22) also set a new career-best in digs.
- 77 kills are tied for the sixth-most kills in a single match for UNC.
- The Bears won its sixth Big Sky Tournament Title, making its sixth appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
- Lauren Strain, Rachel Hickman and Makenzie Harris were named to the All-Tournament Team. Harris was named Tournament MVP
What's Ahead.
Selection Sunday is set for November, 28, when the Bears will learn its first-round opponent in the NCAA Tournament.
To stay up to date on all things UNC volleyball, visit UNCBears.com and follow the team onÂ
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Instagram andÂ
Twitter.
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