COLORADO SPRINGS - Eleven kills each by Nikki Kinzer and Sonja Johnson weren't enough to carry the University of Colorado Colorado Springs as the shorthanded Mountain Lions were beaten by 3-1 (25-18, 22-25, 30-28, 25-17) by the Colorado Christian Cougars Friday evening at the Gallogly Events Center.

If there were ever an example of how important defense and passing is in the game of volleyball, Friday was it. The teams were evenly matched offensively. Lauren Rosenthal of Colorado Christian and UCCS' Cindy Bathelt, two of the better setters in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, were both outstanding.

On the back row, however, the Mountain Lions were without their two best defenders - Skylar Lewandowski and Alex Wood - and the difference showed. The Mountain Lions were forced out of system by the strong-serving Cougars and hit just .130 for the match with 28 hitting errors.

Colorado Christian (8-8, 5-2 RMAC) got 16 digs from libero Cassidy Burke, while Ali Weber assisted on eight of CCU's 12 blocks. Andi Weber led the Cougars with 13 kills.

Johnson had a match-high 17 digs for UCCS (9-7, 4-3 RMAC) and Jenica Shippy, an outside hitter who was pressed into duty at libero in Lewandowski's absence, added 11 digs.