COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs freshman middle blocker
Josie Russell led the Mountain Lions with 12 kills and three blocks as UCCS (11-7, 8-2 RMAC) won its eighth straight home match in a 3-0 victory against New Mexico Highlands (5-10, 2-8 RMAC). The Mountain Lions won in 25-23, 25-19 and 27-25 sets against the Cowgirls.
UCCS scored six straight points early in the first set to take a 13-12 lead in a set that featured 12 ties. Highlands tied the set for the last time at 20-20 before the Mountain Lions scored three of the next four points for a 23-21 advantage. The Cowgirls made it a one-point set twice, the last at 24-23, before a kill from
Taylor Smith secured the 25-23 Mountain Lion victory.
The Mountain Lions put together a 6-1 rally early in the second set and followed with a five-point run later for a 17-10 advantage. UCCS recorded its best hitting performance of the night in the set with a .281 team percentage and took a 2-0 match lead on a 25-19 win. The Mountain Lions experienced a balanced offense in the set with kills from six different hitters.
New Mexico Highlands gradually opened a 16-10 lead in the third set, and earned 12 of the first 16 points off 10 kills and two blocks. A kill from Russell sparked a 9-3 run that tied the set at 19-19, but the Mountain Lions wouldn't take the lead until 24-23 at match point. The Cowgirls made back-to-back kills to earn set point at 25-24, but a kill and service ace from
Taylor Hamilton, and a kill from
Alyssa Brinton, closed out the set and the match in the 27-25 decision.
Russell made five of her kills in the third set with a perfect hitting percentage, and finished the night with a .611 percentage. Brinton finished the night with 11 kills in her ninth straight match with double-digit kills. Smith added nine kills and Hamilton made eight.
Raelynn Edge made 36 assists and increased her season average to 11.14 assists per set. She is on pace to finish fourth in UCCS season average records.
Natasha Habert led a balanced back line with 10 digs as Brinton and Edge made eight each.
The Mountain Lions will begin a four-match road stretch next weekend. UCCS will start at Colorado Christian in a 7 p.m., match on Oct. 20. The Cougars (12-7, 9-1 RMAC) won 3-1 against Western State tonight.
