COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado, Colorado Springs volleyball team battled the No. 17-ranked Colorado Mesa University Mavericks in a tightly contested match but fell short in four sets.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP

• Final Score: L, 3-1 (22-25, 25-22, 22-25, 24-26,)
• Records: UCCS (8-9, 3-4 RMAC) | CMU (14-3, 6-1 RMAC)
• Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
• All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions fall to 39-8 against the Mavericks, losing their eighth straight matchup.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Friday night's match started with the Mavericks in the driver's seat, up 5-1. Audrey Dowd and Payton Tompkins got it rolling for the Mountain Lions after connecting on a kill, sparking UCCS to a 13-7 run. Up 14-12, CMU quickly took back the lead and headed to a 24-20 lead with set point. The Mountain Lions collected two points to inch closer but would drop set one, 25-22.
• UCCS found themselves down a point (7-6) early in set two but would tie it on a Mavericks attack error. Emily Pruitt flashed her athleticism with back-to-back kills, giving the Mountain Lions life. UCCS rode this momentum and brought their lead up to 17-12 after a service ace from Rylee Pitts. CMU battled their way back, pulling themselves within two (24-22), but Dowd and Tompkins would connect to put the finishing touches on set two, 25-22.
• UCCS stayed hot out of the gate in set three, scoring four straight unanswered, forcing a Mavericks timeout early. CMU reset from the break and silenced the momentum from the home team. Notched up at 15-15, kills from Pruitt, Sydnee Walker, and Pitts gave the Mountain Lions a push. Not going away quickly, CMU turned the intensity up and found themselves up 23-20. Consecutive kills from Avery Ahlers and Pruitt saw UCCS down one (23-22), but the Mavericks would come out on top at 25-22.
• The Mountain Lions responded well to start the fourth set and would pull away to a 9-3 lead. CMU cut into their deficit on a 5-1 run, but UCCS would remain up four (13-9). Allowing big runs throughout the match slowed down the Mountain Lion's progress. CMU took advantage, storming to a 7-0 run and taking a 16-13 lead. A successful challenge from the Mavericks aided their run and grew their energy. Down four (22-18) and facing defeat, the relentless UCCS squad surged to a 6-1 run, taking a 24-23 lead with Ahlers, Tompkins, Pruitt, and Walker at the helm. However, CMU showcased their resiliency once again, finishing the match with three unanswered points and winning set four 26-24.

MATCH STATISTICS

• The Mavericks and Mountain Lions were close to each other's efforts in the stat sheet, but CMU edged UCCS in kills (61-55), assists (60-50), and total blocks (8-6). The Mountain Lions had the advantage in hitting percentage, out-hitting the Mavericks .252-.230.  
• The Mountain Lions had the advantage in hitting percentage, out-hitting the Mavericks .252-.230.  
• Pruitt led the Mountain Lions effort tonight, collecting 18 kills, 18 points, and an impressive attack percentage of .325.
• Dowd set her teammates up well all evening, tallying 46 assists. The setter dug up 13 attacks, nabbed two block assists, and recorded one kill.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Pruitt's 18 kills in tonight's match marks her four-set season high. Her hitting percentage of .325 is a new career-high.  
• Dowd's 46 assist ties her career high in assists in a four-set match but marks as a season-high.  

UP NEXT

• The Mountain Lions will look to get back on track tomorrow for a match against Westminster University. The first serve is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Gallogly Events Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

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For everything UCCS Athletics, follow the Mountain Lions on social media and stay tuned to gomountainlions.com. 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.