COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs volleyball team displayed absolute dominance in their 3-0 sweep over the Westminster University Griffins, holding them to just 24 kills and a hitting percentage of .010 Saturday evening in Gallogly Events Center.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score: W, 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-12)
- Records: UCCS (9-9, 4-4 RMAC) | WU (8-9, 4-4 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions now improve to an all-time 11-2 record against the Griffins.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Saturday's dominant performance started with an Avery Ahlers kill. UCCS came out with a 3-1 lead, but the Griffins would hold things steady and lead 12-11 later. The Mountain Lions then opened a 6-1 run from Westminster attack errors, kills from Sydnee Walker and Emily Pruitt, and two service aces from Pruitt to lead 17-13. The Griffins hung around, but UCCS put them away, winning set one 25-19.
The Mountain Lions began the second set in complete control defensively, leading 13-7 and digging up any attack the Griffins hit their way. UCCS went on a 9-2 run from that point and led 22-11. Westminster scored four of the following five points in the match, but a kill from Payton Tompkins and a kill from Audrey Dowd put the finishing touches on set two, 25-15. The Mountain Lions held the Griffins to a hit percentage of -.056 in set two as they surrendered 10 attack errors.
UCCS could see a sweep in sight and began set three on an 8-2 run. Westminster brought themselves within five (12-7) later, but mistakes from the Griffins allowed the Mountain Lions to take an overriding 19-10 lead. At that point, Dowd and Rylee Pitts connected for the subsequent four kills, giving UCCS a 12-point lead (23-11). Avrey Keim entered the match and immediately collected a kill, and the Mountain Lions would win on an attack error from Westminster. UCCS gathered an impressive .321 hit percentage in set three with 13 kills.
MATCH STATISTICS
- The Mountain Lions led in multiple statistics today, including points (75-46), kills (35-24), hit percentage (.256-.010), assists (32-24), service aces (6-3), total blocks (8-6), and digs (46-37).
- Pruitt put together a fantastic overall performance in today's match, leading the Mountain Lions with 11 kills, a hit percentage of .375, four aces, two blocks, and 17 points.
- UCCS also got solid performances from Tompkins, who collected eight kills and 9.5 points; Pitts, who recorded seven kills and four block assists; and Walker, who saw five kills and a team-high 10 digs.
- Dowd aided her outside hitters to success today, assisting on 27 kills. Dowd also collected a kill herself, with one block and three points.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Today's sweep is the second 3-0 finish for the Mountain Lions this season and their first since the opening match of the year on Sept. 6 versus Cameron University.
- Today's match saw 46 digs from UCCS, marking the second most digs in a three-set match this season.
- In a three-set match, Pruitt's 17 points in today's win marks the most points a Mountain Lion has recorded this season. Dowd's 27 assists also mark the most in a three-set match for any Mountain Lions.
UP NEXT
- UCCS looks to keep rolling next time out when they take on Western Colorado University on Friday, Oct. 25, in Gunnison, Colo. The match is slated for a 5 p.m. start at the WSCU Mountaineer Fieldhouse.
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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.
