Volleyball Plays Host to Roadrunners, Eagles

10/29/2019 1:51:00 PM

By: Holly Stevenson - Sports Communication Graduate Assistant

THIS WEEK'S MATCHES

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs Mountain Lions play host to Metro State University Denver and Chadron State College.

Nov. 01 at 7 p.m. vs. MSU Denver (16-4, 11-1 RMAC), Colorado Springs, Colo./Gallolgy Events Center
Nov. 02 at 5 p.m. vs. Chadron State College (13-7, 7-5 RMAC), Colorado Springs, Colo./Gallolgy Events Center

GAME COVERAGE

Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/uccs/

Coach Chrissy Elder achieved her 100th win as a head coach this past weekend. The Mountain Lions won Friday night against CCU in a 3-2 match. Hannah Ammerman had a match high of 19 kills while Grace Nelson made a match high for her hitting percentage, .476, on her 12 kills. Defense was unstoppable at the CCU Events Center with three of the Mountain Lions tallied double digits for digs: Jordyn Kinsey (19), Lauryn Shockley (19), and Madison McIntosh (10). Saturday night UCCS went up against #12 Regis University where we were swept in a 3-0 match. Although the team was held to a .090 hitting percentage, Grace Nelson had a strong match with 13 kills and a .400 hitting percentage.

The Series

UCCS played MSUD last year in Denver and lost 1-3, making the overall series record 6-40.
The Mountain Lions have a series record against the Eagles of 24-12. The team is on a two match win streak as both the wins were on the road.

Scouting Report

MSU Denver is ranked No. 2 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference for their 11-1 record.
Alyssa Kelling has won Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week twice this season for MSU Denver and is No. 5 in the conference for hitting percentage (.359) and ranked No. 4 for blocks (1.18/set).
The Roadrunners show they are a strong team with players ranked in almost every category in the RMAC with the exception of digs and assists.
With their RMAC record of 7-5 Chadron State College is currently ranked seventh.
For the Eagles, Ashton Borditt is a strong defensive player, ranked No. 1 for digs averaging 6.24 a set.

Hot Takes

UCCS is tied with CSU-Puebo for No. 8 in the RMAC rankings
Grace Nelson had a strong offensive weekend moving her spot in the RMAC for hitting percentage to No. 8 with a .322 percentage

UCCS Under Head Coach Chrissy Elder

Coach Chrissy Elder has achieved her 100-win milestone mark. An interim head coach in 2006 at Missouri-Kansas City where she went 7-23, she has garnered 93 wins at UCCS (93-93), including three winning seasons. In her eighth year as a head coach, Elder has a 100-116 record.
Elder has led the Mountain Lions to the RMAC Tournament for six season, and has coached 19 all-conference and 28 academic all-conference performers.
Elder came to UCCS from the University of Central Missouri where she was a member of a coaching staff that lead the Jennies to the NCAA Division II national semifinals in 2010 and the national quarterfinals in 2011. She joined the staff in 2007 as an assistant coach before she was promoted to Head Assistant Coach in 2009. Prior to joining the staff at Central Missouri, Elder was the interim head coach for the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She joined the Kangaroo staff as a graduate assistant coach in 2005. Elder finished her collegiate playing career at Pittsburg State University, where she also doubled as a student assistant coach for the Gorillas in her senior season. She was an All-American and All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association setter. In 2005, Elder earned her bachelor's degree in recreation and fitness management from Pittsburg State, and in 2008 she went on to earn her master's degree from UMKC.

Upcoming Matches

Next week the Mountain Lions go on the road again for the final weekend of conference play to face Western State and Colorado Mesa.

Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. at Western State Colorado University, Gunnison, Colo./WSCU Paul Wright Gym
Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. at Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, Colo./CMU Brownson Arena