Box Score PUEBLO, Colo. –
Kim Catlett recorded a match-high 20 kills and added a team-high 16 digs on defense as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (3-6 / 0-1 RMAC) fell in five sets to Colorado State-Pueblo (7-3 / 1-0 RMAC) tonight in Massari Arena. Scores went 25-17, 21-25, 23-25, 25-22 and 15-13 for the ThunderWolves in the conference-opener for both teams.
The ThunderWolves took an early 4-1 advantage before the Mountain Lions scored four straight for a 5-4 lead. The two squads tied four times and kept the other from no more than a two-point edge until CSU-Pueblo took the 15-12 lead. The ThunderWolves eventually opened up a 19-13 lead and took the first set with a 25-17 decision.
Both teams went back and forth to begin the second set through a 6-5 advantage for CSU-Pueblo before a kill from
Celeste Henderson sparked a five-point Mountain Lion rally. UCCS would keep at least a four-point lead through the rest of the set to even the match with a 25-21 victory.
CSU-Pueblo put together an 8-1 run in the third set to take a 13-9 lead midway through the set. After the teams traded points, UCCS assembled its own 8-1 rally to take an 18-15 lead. The ThunderWolves tied it back up at 19-19 and 20-20 but couldn't retake the lead as the Mountain Lions took a 2-1 match lead on a 25-23 set win. Catlett had six kills in the set and the Mountain Lions hit .351 as a team in the victory.
Madison Palmer sparked a five-point UCCS run with a kill as the Mountain Lions built an 8-4 lead early in the fourth set. After a ThunderWolves timeout, CSU-Pueblo tied it at 9-9 and broke through for a lead at 14-13. That point was the start of a five-point run for the ThunderWolves, who eventually got to set point at 24-18. UCCS held off CSU-Pueblo for four straight points but was forced to go to a fifth set on a 25-22 ThunderWolves decision.
UCCS and CSU-Pueblo tied seven times through a 9-9 score in the fifth set before the Mountain Lions opened an 11-9 lead. UCCS led 12-10 in the set before the ThunderWolves scored five of the final six points for the 15-13 set win and 3-2 match victory.
Tonight was the third 20-kill performance for Catlett this season.
Cassidy Bush added 11 kills and three blocks while Palmer finished with nine kills for the second straight match.
The Mountain Lions will continue a three-match road weekend Friday at Adams State. The Grizzlies defeated Chadron State in three sets earlier tonight.
