Mountain Lions rally to beat Mesa State
COLORADO SPRINGS- Karina Miastkowska had 14 kills and hit a robust .440 to lead the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs to a 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 22-25, 25-18, 15-10) comeback victory over the Mesa State Mavericks Saturday afternoon at the Lions'Den.
Mesa State finished the 2008 Marriott Volleyball Invitational with a disappointing 0-3 record, which dropped their season mark to 2-5. The Mountain Lions (4-3 overall and 1-2 during the tournament) will face No. 8-ranked Minnesota-Duluth in the tourney's final match at 5 p.m.
Molly Crockett added 11 kills and 19 digs for the Mountain Lions, while Kelsey Pobar had a match-high 21 digs. Jessica Stewart, UCCS'only senior, managed the offense to a .157 hitting mark with 36 assists.
Alisan Tompkins led Mesa State with 19 kills. Corinne Cascioppo had 10 kills, while libero Ashley Loftsgard had 17 digs.
The Mountain Lions trailed two sets to one and were tied at six in the fourth set when consecutive kills by Stewart sparked a 5-0 run. Mesa State twice closed to within three, the second at 14-11, when Miastkowska and Sonja Johnson each had two kills during a 5-2 run that extended the lead to six. UCCS held on to even the match.
The fifth set was tied at six when UCCS put together a 6-1 run behind kills by Miastkowska, Crockett and Andrea Brodie. The teams traded points the rest of the way as the Mountain Lions completed the comeback.
That a comeback was necessary certainly didn't please UCCS coach Jessica Wood. With the match sitting at one set each, the Mountain Lions were holding what should have been a comfortable 19-12 lead. Mesa State, though, rallied for a 25-22 win behind four kills by Tompkins and three more by Antoinette McCormick.
UCCS Players/Staff Featured | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Jessica Stewart | 8 | S | Jr. |
 | Jessica Stewart | 8 | S | Jr. |
 | Jessica Stewart | 8 | S | Jr. |
 | Jessica Stewart | 8 | S | Jr. |
 | Karina Miastkowska | 1 | MB | |
| Additional News Stories | |||
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| December 4, 2008 |  | UCCS Signee Laura Brodie Named to Class 4A All-State Team | University of Colorado at Colorado Springs volleyball signee Laura Brodie was named to the Rocky Mountain News Class 4A All-State team, which was published in the newspaper on Thursday. |
| November 19, 2008 |  | Mountain Lions Sign Brodie, MVP of Class 4A State Tournament | University of Colorado at Colorado Springs volleyball coach Jessica Wood announced Wednesday the signing of Cheyenne Mountain High School senior Laura Brodie to a national letter of intent. |
| November 8, 2008 |  | Volleyball season comes to end with loss to Nebraska-Kearney | KEARNEY, Neb.- The season came to an end Saturday for the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs volleyball team with a 3-0 (25-16, 25-12, 25-14) loss to the No. 8-ranked Nebraska-Kearney Lopers at the Health and Sports Center. |
| November 4, 2008 | Crockett leads Mountain Lions past Colorado Christian | LAKEWOOD- Molly Crockett had 14 kills to lead the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs volleyball team to a 3-1 (25-19, 22-25, 25-20, 25-19) victory over the Colorado Christian Cougars Tuesday evening at Cougar Fieldhouse. | |
| November 1, 2008 |  | Mountain Lions' playoff hopes officially end with loss at Regis | DENVER- The playoffs will have to wait for the young University of Colorado at Colorado Springs volleyball team.The Mountain Lions mounted a spirited comeback but were unable to finish it Saturday evening in a 3-2 (25-15, 25-18, 22-25, 14-25, 15-13) loss to the Regis Rangers at Regis Fieldhouse. |
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