DENVER –
Taylor Hamilton matched her career-high with eight blocks and added a team-high 12 kills on offense as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs won a road match at MSU Denver for the first time in program history with a 3-1 victory. The Mountain Lions (7-5, 2-1 RMAC) won in 22-25, 25-21, 25-21 and 25-21 against the Roadrunners (3-8, 1-2 RMAC).
MSU Denver took an eight-point lead midway through the first set at 17-9 before the Mountain Lions cut the Roadrunner lead down to a point at 21-20. Nine of the 11 points in the run came off of earned points with five kills, three service aces and a block. UCCS wouldn't be able to keep the momentum and MSU Denver took the first set 25-22.
The Mountain Lions put together a 9-1 run in the second set to take a 16-11 lead against the Roadrunners and made five blocks in the set to even the match with a 25-21 set victory.
Cassidy Bush made five of her 11 kills in the third set and the UCCS defense held MSU Denver to a .080 hitting percentage to take the 2-1 match lead on a 25-21 win.
The Roadrunners scored six straight points in the fourth set to turn a 14-11 UCCS lead into a 17-14 MSU Denver advantage. The Mountain Lions responded with fourth straight points to take an 18-17 lead. It would be the seventh and final lead change of the set as UCCS finished the set with three service aces in the final seven points for the 25-21 win and the 3-1 match victory.
Hamilton hit .387 on the night with six kills on nine attacks in the fourth set. Bush extended her streak of 10-or-more kills to four matches with her 11 tonight and made four blocks on defense.
Celeste Henderson and
Natasha Habert both led the team with 13 digs and
Morgan Evans added 34 assists and 12 digs.
Kim Catlett moved into second in UCCS career kills records with nine tonight and has 1,098 in her four-year career.
It was the first win against MSU Denver in Denver in program history and the first win overall since Oct. 20, 2007. UCCS will continue its road trip this weekend in a Friday match at Fort Lewis and a Saturday match at Adams State.
