COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Two long rallies in the first two opening sets propel the University of Colorado Colorado Springs volleyball team to a 3-1 win Friday night over Black Hills State University inside Gallogly Events Center.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score vs. Black Hills State: 3-1 (25-16, 25-10, 21-25, 25-23)
- Records: UCCS (4-6, 2-0 RMAC) | BHSU (4-5, 0-1 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center| Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: UCCS owns a 13-3 all-time series record against Black Hills State and has won the last three meetings.
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. BLACK HILLS STATE
- With the opening set knotted at 15-15, UCCS used an 8-0 run to break away from the Yellow Jackets and post a nine-point win. An attack error by BHSU started the scoring spree before Sydnee Walker put down back-to-back kills. Two more attacking errors by BHSU were followed by two straight service aces by Lauryn Shockley. Walker hit a team high five kills in the first set while BHSU was held to a total of five kills and a -.152 attack percentage.
- UCCS stayed on track in the second set and notched a 9-0 run to break a 7-7 tie. Nicole Medlin started the run with a kill while Shockley, Clara Benskin and Joei Barela each added kills before Mackenzie Ransom ended the run with an ace. The Yellow Jackets committed four errors during the spree and the Mountain Lions held the visiting squad at bay, ending the set on a 9-3 run.
- Black Hills State battled back in the third set. After scoring only 10 points in the second set, the Yellow Jackets swarmed UCCS and jumped to a 12-1 advantage in just the first 13 serves. UCCS made the set close but fell short, 25-21, after posting a .030 hitting mark.
- The home team put the visitors away in the fourth set, 25-23, that featured four lead changes and 11 ties. Neither team led by more than two points until Barela connected with Medlin for UCCS' largest lead of the set, 18-14. Medlin and Shockley notched four kills each as four Mountain Lions recorded at least two kills in the final set.
MATCH STATISTICS VS. BLACK HILLS STATE
- Medlin put down a match high 14 kills behind 27 attempts and did not commit an error as she posted a staggering .519 hitting percentage.
- Walker chipped in 10 kills and added four digs with a block assist as part of her 10.5 points.
- Barela accounted for 35 of the Mountain Lions 40 set assists and helped UCCS hit .220 as a team.
- Barela and Shockley each served up two aces as the Mountain Lions finished the night with five total aces.
- Three Mountain Lions dug up double digit attacks led by libero Ransom's 15 digs. Both Raegen Emery and Shockley recorded 10 digs.
- As a team, the Mountain Lions put 47 kills, 40 assists, 10 blocks, and 52 digs in the box score.
- Audrey Brgoch led the Yellow Jackets with 12 kills, three block assists and an ace.
- UCCS' defense held BHSU to a -.008 hitting mark.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The last time UCCS started the conference season 2-0 was in the spring of 2021 when the 2020 season was shortened and played in the spring of 2021 due to CoVID-19. The last time UCCS started a full RMAC regular season 2-0 was in 2012.
- Benskin had a career night with eight kills, 21 attacks and six blocks (five solo).
- Medlin's 14 kills, 16.5 points and .519 hitting mark are a season high for the Mountain Lions.
- UCCS' .220 hitting percentage and 10 blocks are the second-best marks as a team this season.
- Shockley continues to make her mark in the career record book for the Mountain Lions. The graduate student is sixth all-time in total attacks (2,783) and needs just 17 more to move to fifth. She currently ranks eighth in kills (997) and aces (92) and will move into a tie for 10th place in her next match played.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions will play a single match next weekend when they head to Las Vegas, N.M. to take on New Mexico Highlands University on Friday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m.
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
