GOODWELL, Okla. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs and Fort Hays State went long in two of the three sets, including a marathon 38-36 decision, but the Tigers (1-0) took the match against the Mountain Lions (1-1) on the second day of the Aggies Classic this morning. UCCS fell in 27-29, 20-25 and 36-38 sets at the Oscar Williams Field House.
Alyssa Brinton finished with 19 kills, good for seventh in program history for a three-set match.
Morgan Evans made 43 assists, one away from a top-10 performance for three-set matches. She moved into seventh in UCCS career record books and now has 1,733 in her career. Evans needs 418 more to move into a tie for sixth.
UCCS went down 6-1 in the first set, but a 5-1 run late in the set provided a 24-23 lead for the Mountain Lions. The teams tied four times through 27-27, when UCCS evened the set on a kill by
Taylor Hamilton, but a service error by the Mountain Lions and a kill by the Tigers resulted in the 29-27 decision for Fort Hays State.
The Mountain Lions kept the Tigers within four points for the second set and pulled to 21-20 on a kill from Evans. Fort Hays State closed out the set with four straight points on two kills, a service ace and block for a 25-20 victory and the 2-0 match lead.
UCCS took a 6-2 lead in the third set and didn't trail until Fort Hays State assembled a 7-1 run to take a 20-19 lead. The Mountain Lions scored three of the next four points to take a 22-21 lead, and held set point at 24-23 after a kill from Brinton. The Tigers answered the Mountain Lions through 34-34 before Fort Hays State put together back-to-back points for a 35-34 lead. UCCS matched the score at 36-36, but a block and a kill from the Tigers ended the match in a 38-36 decision.
Hamilton and
Cassidy Bush both finished with 11 kills, and Hamilton joined Evans and
Lauren Brown on defense with three blocks each.
Natasha Habert led another balanced effort with 13 digs while Evans added nine and Brinton finished with eight.
The Mountain Lions will finish the Aggies Classic on Saturday with an 8 a.m., MDT, match against Missouri Southern and a 4 p.m., MDT, match against Northwestern Oklahoma State.
