Mountain Lions Lose Close Match, Not Playoff Hopes

The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs fell 3-2 (25-20, 23-25, 21-25, 25-14, 15-17) in a back-and-forth, five-set match against the Colorado College Tigers Tuesday night. Nine Tiger aces were too much to overcome in a game leading up to the Mountain Lion's (15-11) final playoff push this weekend.

Tuesday's contest was a nonconference match and, as such, had no bearing on UCCS' playoff aspirations.

Nicole Pederson and Nikki Kinzer led the Mountain Lions offensively with a match high 12 kills each. Alex Nuttall contributed 10 kills of her own hitting at a match best .320 hitting percentage.

The Mountain Lions got off to a good start winning a closely played first set. UCCS was up 18-16 before going on a four point run to open it up to 22-16 and then held off the Tigers comeback attempt to win 25-20.

After losing two close sets in games two and three, the Mountain Lions found new life in game four. The set was tied at nine when UCCS turned it on and went on a 16-5 run to close out the set 25-14 and force a deciding game five.

After battling back-and-forth out of the gate in game five, UCCS opened a 10-6 lead only to see the Tigers chip away and eventually tie the set at 12 all. The set would again be even at 13, 14 and 15 before Colorado College put two points together, winning the game 17-15 on an ace.

Kendall Utz had a match high 24 digs on the evening and Skylar Lewandowski and Alex Nuttall had 16 and 13 respectively.

The Mountain Lions will continue to try and claw their way into the playoffs Friday night when the Chadron State Eagles visit the Gallogly Events Center at 7 P.M. A victory over the Eagles, whom UCCS swept earlier in the season, would clinch a spot in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference playoffs for the Mountain Lions.