COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs volleyball team opened their 2019 home season Thursday night against Angelo State University in the first match of the 2019 UCCS Mountain Lion Invitational.  The Belles entered Gallogly Events Center with a 4-0 record and stayed undefeated after sweeping the Mountain Lions.
 
In a tight match from the beginning, both teams went into extra points in the first two sets, 26-24 and 28-26.  Trailing 23-21 in the first set, Emily Ettel set up Taylor Smith for a kill followed by an ace from Jordyn Kinsey.  Lauren Brown scored the 24^th point for UCCS on a kill to tie the set at 24 all, but two attack errors by UCCS finished the set in favor of ASU, 26-24. 
 
Josie Russell put down a kill late in the second set to give the Mountain Lions a 24-19 set point before ASU rallied back to win the set, 28-26.  Lauryn Shockley served an ace while Grace Nelson and Smith chipped in two kills, but the Mountain Lions committed five errors in the final 12 points to trail the Belles, 2-0 heading into the third set.
 
In the final set, UCCS tied Angelo State six times but ASU held the lead the entire set.
 
For the match, UCCS hit .254 at the net, including a .345 hitting mark in the third set.  Smith and Shockley each put down nine kills.  Josie Russell connected for five kills on 10 attempts without an error for a .500 hitting mark.  Ettel served two of the Mountain Lions three aces and assisted on 39 kills.
 
Kailyn Gilbreath led ASU with a team high nine kills and a .368 hitting mark.  The Belles swung at a .419 rate in the third set (19 kills, six errors, 31 attempts) and finished the match with a .323 hitting percentage.
 
The Mountain Lions (1-4) will be back in action Friday morning at 9 a.m. against Emporia State University, and again at 7 p.m. against Arkansas-Fort Smith.