Kinzer leads UCCS to third straight win
COLORADO SPRINGS - Nikki Kinzer had 21 kills and hit .562 as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs defeated the Western State Mountaineers 3-2 (27-29, 25-15, 25-19, 23-25, 15-5) Saturday evening at the Gallogly Events Center.
Fellow middle blocker Megan Koop added 17 kills. The duo had just eight hitting errors, allowing them to hit a combined .448.
It was the third consecutive win for the Mountain Lions after a five-match skid.
"A win is a win is a win. We'll take it," said UCCS coach Keith Barnett. "Three and oh this weekend. To quote Al Davis, 'Just win, baby.'"
Pretty it wasn't. UCCS led 24-18 in the first set before surrendering seven straight points, the final two on kills by Sara Larson. The Mountain Lions had set point again at 27-26, but Western State scored three straight to take the set 29-27.
UCCS recovered to take the second and third sets. Leading 8-7 in the second set, a kill by Kinzer put Laura Loosbrock on the service line. Three more kills by Kinzer and three aces by Loosbrock helped the Mountain Lions to a 12-point run and, ultimately, a 25-15 set win.
Skylar Lewandowski served a 7-0 lead, including a pair of aces, to start the third set. The Mountaineers closed to within two at 12-10 but couldn't get any closer.
But just when it looked as if UCCS would put them away, the scrappy Mountaineers took the fourth set behind six kills by Kallee Cool.
That forced a deciding fifth set where Kinzer took over. The senior from Colorado Springs had four kills and assisted on two blocks in the set. Sonja Johnson added two of her 11 kills in the deciding set as UCCS closed it out 15-5.
Larson led Western State (5-15, 2-10 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) with 12 kills. Sami Fuentes had a match-high 33 digs, while setter Molly Dolson added 34 assists, 18 digs and eight kills.
Lewandowski and Johnson had 26 and 21 digs respectively for UCCS (12-9, 7-5 RMAC). Kinzer had a solo block and five assisted blocks, while setter Cindy Bathelt had 56 assists, 16 digs, five kills and four assisted blocks.
UCCS Players/Staff Featured | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Cindy Bathelt | 16 | S | |
 | Cindy Bathelt | 16 | S | |
 | Cindy Bathelt | 16 | S | |
 | Nikki Kinzer | 2 | MB | |
 | Nikki Kinzer | 2 | MB | Sr |
 | Nikki Kinzer | 2 | MB | |
 | Skylar Lewandowski | 11 | DS/L | |
 | Skylar Lewandowski | 11 | DS/L | |
 | Laura Loosbrock | 10 | OH/OPP | |
 | Megan Koop | 14 | MB | Jr |
 | Megan Koop | 14 | MB | Sr |
| 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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