COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Three Mountain Lions finished with 10 or more kills as the University of Colorado Colorado Springs finished the regular season in a 3-0 sweep of South Dakota Mines. The Mountain Lions (15-11, 12-6 RMAC) won in 25-21, 25-20 and 25-21 sets against the Hardrockers (3-25, 1-17 RMAC) tonight in the Gallogly Events Center.
UCCS and South Dakota Mines played long rallies at the start of the first set and neither team took an extended lead until the Mountain Lions opened a 17-13 advantage.
Natasha Habert recorded nine of her 14 digs in the first set with the benefit of the rallies as UCCS claimed a 25-21 opening victory.
The Hardrockers scored five straight points midway through the second set for a 13-11 lead against the Mountain Lions. UCCS wouldn't allow South Dakota Mines to score back-to-back points the rest of the set and finished on a 12-4 run for a 25-20 set victory.
Alyssa Brinton led both teams with five kills in the period.
The Mountain Lions never trailed in the third set and used a 6-1 rally to build a 16-10 lead midway through the set. South Dakota Mines closed the lead down to a pair of points at 23-21, but UCCS took advantage of a Hardrocker attack error and a kill from
Grace Nelson to finish the night in a 25-21 set win.
Nelson and Brinton shared the team lead with 11 kills and
Taylor Hamilton added 10 kills.
Raelynn Edge led both teams with 31 assists and made 10 digs, her most in the conference season.
Julie Ward led the back row with 16 digs and Habert made 14. She increased her career total to 1,775, and needs 19 to tie the UCCS record.
UCCS finished the regular season with 15 wins and secured its 13th 15-win season in program history. The Mountain Lions will travel for the quarterfinal round of the 2017 RMAC Tournament will learn their seed and opponent later tonight.
