COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The University of Colorado Colorado Springs volleyball team (4-4) begins the 2013 conference season this weekend as the Mountain Lions host Colorado Christian (4-5) and No. 19 Colorado Mines (6-3) for the annual Whiteout event.
The first 400 students to the Friday night match home opener against Colorado Christian will receive free Whiteout t-shirts. Students who wear their Whiteout t-shirt to Saturday's game against Colorado Mines will have the chance to win two pairs of lift tickets to Monarch Mountain. The match begins at 7 p.m., in the Gallogly Events Center, and the ticket drawing will take place between the second and third sets against the Orediggers.
UCCS is led by
Kristen Sciacca, who is second in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference for hitting percent (.398), second for total blocks (29), and fourth for blocks per set (1.04).
Jordan Banich has also started the season strongly and leads the Mountain Lions in kills (73) and kills per set (2.61). Banich was also named to the BritKare Lady Buff Classic All-Tournament First Team after the opening weekend, as well as the Peggy Martin Challenge All-Tournament First Team last weekend.
The 2013 conference season officially begins for UCCS on Friday when the Mountain Lions host Colorado Christian in their home opener. UCCS leads the all-time series 24-16.
The Cougars are led on offense this season by Taylor Sturms, who is first in the RMAC for kills (157) and kills per set (4.76).
Colorado Christian was defeated 3-0 this past Tuesday by No. 17 Colorado Mines, who UCCS will play in the second night of Whiteout weekend.The Mountain Lions lead the Orediggers in the all-time series 22-15.
Colorado Mines ranks in the top three in the RMAC as a team this season for hitting percent (.240), assists per set (14.26), kills per set (15), and digs per set (18.68).
The Orediggers are led on offense by Melanie Wannamaker who is first in the RMAC for hitting percent (4.28), and second for kills per set (4.65). The offense is anchored by Danielle Johnson-Hazelwood who is first in the conference for assists per set (12.58). The defense is led by Hannah Mergheim, who is first in the conference for digs per set (5.26).
Both matches begin at 7 p.m. in the Gallogly Events Center. Fans who cannot attend the match can watch on the America One Networks or follow the live stats.
