COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs hit .371 as a team for one of the best performances in program history and moved into a tie for first in the RMAC with a 3-0 victory against New Mexico Highlands tonight in the Gallogly Events Center. The Mountain Lions (14-6, 9-2 RMAC) won in 25-14, 25-18 and 27-25 sets against the Cowgirls (6-14, 3-8 RMAC).
UCCS has won four of its last five matches in 3-0 victories and eight of the last nine overall since Sept. 22. The Mountain Lions have won their most games since 2012 with seven regular season games remaining and are one game away from entering the top 10 records for season wins.
The Mountain Lions opened the first set with three straight points and never trailed in the 25-14 victory. UCCS hit .469 in the period with 18 kills.
Cassidy Bush accounted for six of the kills with a .750 hitting percentage and
Kim Catlett mad four kills on four attempts for a perfect percentage.
UCCS assembled an early 6-1 run in the second set for a 10-5 lead and led by at least four points for the rest of the set for the 25-18 win. Bush went six-of-seven on offense for .857 hitting and the Mountain Lions hit .444 with 15 kills.
The Cowgirls held UCCS to one extended run in the third set and the teams continued to go back and forth with 15 ties and eight lead changes. The Mountain Lions put together a 7-2 rally late in the set for a 22-18 lead, but the Cowgirls tied it with four straight points at 22-22. New Mexico Highlands held off UCCS match points at 24-23 and 25-24 before a block from
Taylor Hamilton and
Miranda Sanchez provided a third match point at 26-25 and a Cowgirl attack error sealed the match on a 27-25 victory in the third set.
Catlett led the Mountain Lions with 16 kills and 11 digs, and Hamilton hit .706 with 13 kills off of 17 attacks. Bush added another 13 kills in her best three-set performance of the season.
Morgan Evans made 40 assists and averaged more than 12 assists per set in the two matches this weekend.
UCCS will go on the road for its final long trip of the weekend for an Oct. 23 match at Colorado Mesa and an Oct. 24 match at Westminster. The Mavericks won the first meeting between the two teams in a 3-2 decision and are one match behind the Mountain Lions in the RMAC standings at 8-3.
