COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs hit a season-high .273 with 14 kills each from
Taylor Hamilton and
Alyssa Brinton in a 3-1 victory against Newman in the final match of day one in the Steel & Silver Classic. The Mountain Lions (1-5) dropped the first match of the classic 3-0 to No. 19 Central Oklahoma at the Gallogly Events Center.
Hamilton hit .367 with her 14 kills and
Josie Russell added 11 kills with a .478 hitting percentage.
Raelynn Edge finished with a balanced night with 40 kills, six kills and six digs.
UCCS put together a six-point rally in the first set to break a 12-12 tie and took the first set 25-20 against Newman. The Jets used a .310 team hitting percentage in the second set to even the match on a 25-21 decision. The Mountain Lions opened the third set with a 13-3 run and hit .382 for a 25-12 victory and a 2-1 match lead.
Newman assembled a 6-1 run in the fourth set for a 16-12 advantage and maintained the lead at 20-16. A kill by Hamilton sparked the match-winning rally as UCCS took the lead at 23-22 on a 7-1 run, and closed out the night with kills from Brinton and Russell for a 25-23 set victory and 3-1 match win. Hamilton and Brinton made five of their 14 kills in the final set.
Natasha Habert recorded a season-high 25 digs against the Jets and moved into fourth in UCCS career records this morning with 16 digs against the Bronchos. She has 1,433 digs and needs 39 digs to tie Melissa Clark for third in Mountain Lion history.
UCCS scored four straight points in the first set of the day against Central Oklahoma, but couldn't overcome the 23-15 deficit as the Bronchos claimed a 25-21 set. Central Oklahoma expanded its match lead on a 25-18 win in the second set. The Mountain Lions put together an early 7-1 run in the third set and didn't trail until Central Oklahoma closed out the match on a 6-1 for a 25-23 set decision.
UCCS will remain in the Gallogly Events Center for two matches on Saturday. The Mountain Lions take on No. 12 Wayne State (5-1) at 10 a.m., and will close the weekend at 7 p.m., against Texas A&M-Commerce (3-3).