Box Score GUNNISON, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs dropped the first set by two points, and then won the next three sets by a combined 75-48 in a 3-1 victory tonight at Western State Colorado University. The Mountain Lions (4-7 / 1-2 RMAC) won in 23-25, 25-16, 25-17 and 25-15 scores against the Mountaineers (0-7 / 0-3 RMAC).
Both teams kept each other within two points of another in the first set until the Mountain Lions put together a 6-2 run midway through the set for an 18-14 lead. The Mountaineers responded with their own 5-1 rally to pull within two points again at 21-19. After UCCS pushed it to a 22-19 advantage, Western State called a timeout and then finished the set on a 6-1 run to claim the 25-23 decision against the Mountain Lions.
UCCS opened the second set on an 8-point rally off the serving of
Cassidy Bush, who had two aces during the run. The Mountain Lions took a 10-point lead at 12-2 before Western State assembled a 7-1 run to pull within four points at 13-9. UCCS scored the next four points and eventually took the second set 25-16 to even the match at one set each. The Mountain Lions hit .250 as a team with only four attacking errors in the set.
Similar to the start of the second set, the Mountain Lions took an early 8-2 lead against the Mountaineers.
Kim Catlett had four of the eight UCCS points off of kills as part of an eight-kill set. The Mountain Lions built an 18-8 lead before Western State mounted a 9-1 run to pull within three points at 20-17 and force a UCCS timeout. After the break, the Mountain Lions closed out the set with five straight points to win 25-17 and take a 2-1 match lead.
Western State took control early in the fourth set with a 6-3 lead to force a UCCS timeout. The Mountain Lions took their first lead of the set on a 7-2 run for a 13-10 advantage, and kept it going for the 25-15 victory and the four-set win against the Mountaineers.
Catlett finished the night with 17 kills and 19 digs to lead the Mountain Lions in both categories. Bush added 12 kills and four service aces, and
Taylor Hamilton recorded a match-high seven blocks. UCCS finished with a season-high 10 blocks and matched its season-best with 10 aces.
The Mountain Lions will be back at home in the Gallogly Events Center for a three-match home weekend, starting on Thursday night against Fort Lewis. The Skyhawks (4-7 / 1-2 RMAC) defeated Black Hills State in three sets earlier today.
