UCCS finishes season-opening tournament with split
CANYON, Texas - Nikki Kinzer had 13 kills and Megan Koop added 11 and a spectacular .647 hitting mark as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs salvaged a split at the 2011 Lady Buff Invitational by notching a 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-14) victory over the Eastern New Mexico Zias Saturday afternoon at WTAMU Fieldhouse.
Earlier Saturday, UCCS was beaten 3-0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-13) by the Angelo State Rams. The Mountain Lions finished the season-opening tournament 2-2.
Koop's hitting mark was the best by a UCCS player since Nicole Pederson hit .682 against Chadron State on Nov. 5, 2010. It was only the third time since 2008 that a UCCS player had hit .600 or better.
When a team's middle blockers combine for 24 of its 40 kills, it's an indication that the passing and setting were precise. Skylar Lewandowski and Sonja Johnson had eight and seven digs respectively to pace the passing, while setter Cindy Bathelt had 35 assists.
The Mountain Lions hit .405 as a team. UCCS hit as high as .400 only once last year (against Chadron State on Nov. 5).
The early match on Saturday wasn't nearly as kind to UCCS. Angelo State kept the Mountain Lions frustrated, holding them to a -.077 hitting mark.
While UCCS had 31 hitting errors, none were attributed to Kinzer, who had a team-best seven kills.
Five Rams recorded double-digit digs in the match.
UCCS Players/Staff Featured | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Nicole Pederson | 15 | MB | |
| Nicole Pederson | 15 | MB | |
 | Cindy Bathelt | 16 | S | |
 | Cindy Bathelt | 16 | S | |
 | Cindy Bathelt | 16 | S | |
 | Nikki Kinzer | 2 | MB | Sr |
 | Nikki Kinzer | 2 | MB | |
 | Nikki Kinzer | 2 | MB | |
 | Skylar Lewandowski | 11 | DS/L | |
 | Skylar Lewandowski | 11 | DS/L | |
 | Megan Koop | 14 | MB | Sr |
 | Megan Koop | 14 | MB | Jr |
| Additional News Stories | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| February 27, 2012 |  | Cindy Bathelt to play professional volleyball in Rome | Cindy Bathelt will be playing in Rome next fall! The UCCS senior setter will be playing for Aprilia Volleyball Club from August 2012 through May 2013. Aprilia is currently a ‘Serie C’ team that is looking to regain its form and move up the ladder in the Italian rankings. The club is serious about this undertaking, as they’ve hired a trio of American players. Joining Cindy are an outside hitter from Wake Forest and a middle blocker from the University of Miami. They will be 20 minutes south of Rome and living together after a month each with a host family. Italian lessons are mandatory and Cindy is excited to, “have the opportunity to pursue the next chapter in (her) career in such an incredible place as Italy. The people are very outgoing, rich in culture, and the pizza is the best in the world!” |
| November 16, 2011 |  | Kinzer named to Daktronics All-Central Region Team | University of Colorado Colorado Springs middle blocker Nikki Kinzer was named second-team Daktronics All-Central Region, it was announced Wednesday. |
| November 11, 2011 |  | UCCS' Bathelt named to academic all-district team | Cindy Bathelt of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs was named to the 2011 Capital One Division II Academic All-District VII Volleyball Team, it was announced Thursday. |
| November 8, 2011 |  | Kinzer, Bathelt named all-RMAC | COLORADO SPRINGS - Nikki Kinzer and Cindy Bathelt of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs were each named to the 2011 all-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Team, the RMAC announced Tuesday. |
| November 5, 2011 |  | UCCS concludes season with win over Chadron State | CHADRON, Neb. – Behind solid production from the team’s seniors, each of whom was likely playing in their final collegiate match, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs swept the Chadron State Eagles 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-19). |
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