COLORADO SPRINGS- The University of Colorado at Colorado Springs finished the 2008 Marriott Volleyball Invitational with a 1-3 record after Saturday evening's 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-21) loss to the No. 8-ranked Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs at the Lions'Den.

The Mountain Lions are now 4-4 on the season. They will play Colorado Christian in their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener on Tuesday and intra-city rival Colorado College on Wednesday, both at the Lions'Den.

Most of the numbers in this one were surprisingly even. Minnesota-Duluth outhit UCCS by a slim margin, .158-.146 and each team had six blocks. The Bulldogs did serve much better, with five aces and only two errors compared to no aces and seven errors. UMD also passed better, allowing setter Eleena Iisakka to collect 40 assists.

Sarah Wyffels led Minnesota-Duluth (6-2) with 11 kills, while Lindsay Clairmont added 10. Brenda Hansen had a match-high 17 digs.

Molly Crockett led UCCS with 11 kills and 12 digs. Kim Boogaard was solid, with seven kills, five assisted blocks and a .400 hitting mark.

The Mountain Lions were in good position to take the first set, leading 23-21 after consecutive kills by Crockett. April Hansen got a kill to cut it to 23-22, after which Rachel Jacobson's service game kept UCCS on its heels. The resulting weak attacks led to powerful counterattacks as kills by Iisakka and Wyffels closed out the set.

The Mountain Lions struggle with their passing in the second set as Minnesota-Duluth led wire-to-wire.

Two Crockett kills helped UCCS open the third set with a 4-1 lead, but the Bulldogs answered with a 6-0 run. Crockett and Karina Miastkowska had kills to help tie the set at seven, but UMD answered with a 5-0 run. The Mountain Lions worked their way back, tying the set at 14 and were still tied at 20 when two kills and an assisted block by Clairmont sent the Bulldogs to the win.