HAYS, Kan. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs volleyball team salvaged the Fort Hays State University Tigers Classic Saturday afternoon with a five set win over Truman State University, snapping a three-match losing streak. The win improves UCCS to 5-3 through the first two weekends of the non-conference season, while TSU falls to 0-8. UCCS opened Saturday's competition with a 3-0 loss to Emporia State University inside Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kan.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score vs. Emporia State: 0-3 (16-25, 25-27, 23-25) | vs. Truman State: 3-2 (25-19, 21-25, 25-21, 21-25, 15-11)
- Records: UCCS (5-3, 0-0 RMAC) | ESU (5-1, 0-0 MIAA) | TSU (0-8, 0-0 GLVC)
- Facility | Location: Gross Memorial Coliseum | Hays, Kan.
- All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions are now 0-5 all-time against Emporia State. Today's match between UCCS and the Bulldogs marked the first time in program history facing Truman State.
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. EMPORIA STATE
- Saturday's early morning action began with both teams battling for the lead. After a 7-7 tie, the Hornets exploded on an 11-2 run that saw three different players tally at least two kills to take a 17-9 ESU lead. The Mountain Lions were held to just nine kills and a .172 hitting mark as Emporia State took the opening set, 25-16.
- After surrendering the first point of the set, the Mountain Lions took control in the second set, going on a 5-0 run led by two aces and a kill from Payton Tompkins to give UCCS a 5-1 lead. Emily Pruitt paced UCCS in another 5-0 run behind two kills to push UCCS' lead to 10-3. The Mountain Lions continued to hold onto their lead after another Prutt kill gave UCCS a six-point advantage, 18-12, but the lead shriveled as a 7-1 Emporia State run knotted the set at 19-19. A Danielle Varela kill put UCCS on top, 23-22 before Pruitt's kill gave UCCS set point, 25-24, but the Hornets' Weronika Wrzeskinka threw down two kills and Nia Fribie put the set away with the winning kill, 27-25.
- The Mountain Lions were unable to take a lead in the final set as the Hornets completed the sweep with a 25-23 win. Pitts accounted for four of UCCS' 11 kills in the final set but the Mountain Lions were held to a .150 hitting mark while ESU registered 17 kills.
MATCH STATISTICS VS. ESU
- The Mountain Lions were paced by Pruitt's 12 kills and a solid .294 hitting mark. She added seven digs and assisted on two blocks while Avery Ahlers added a solo block and assisted on one more.
- Rylee Pitts finished the match with eight kills while Tompkins recorded seven kills, nine digs and two aces.
- As a team, UCCS notched 36 kills, hit .198, dug up 45 attacks and blocked three attempts.
- The Hornets put down 55 kills as three players recorded at least 12 kills while hitting .312 as a unit.
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. TRUMAN STATE
- The Mountain Lions stopped a seven-set losing skid after winning a decisive 25-19 opening set against Truman State in the afternoon match. The Mountain Lions trailed early on by as many as four points, but UCCS rallied back and tied the set at 16-16 when Maylen Mitrovich connected with Pruitt for a kill. The Mountain Lions cruised to the set win, scoring the final six points, thanks in part to three kills from Pruitt before Ahlers sealed the win on a solo block.
- Varela played in a role in the first three points of the second set for the Mountain Lions, tying the match at 1-1 on a kill and then serving the next two rallies for a 3-1 lead. UCCS' lead was short-lived as the Bulldogs kept the pressure on the offensive attack and they would lead by as many as six points down the stretch, 19-13. TSU evened the match at 1-1 after winning the second set, 25-21, on a Mountain Lion service error.
- The Mountain Lions righted the ship in the third set and tamed the Bulldogs for a 2-1 match lead. While never trailing in the set, Varela, Michelle Fredrick and Pitts teamed up to block two TSU attacks before a kill from Pitts gave the Mountain Lions a 9-4 lead. Another kill from Pitts boosted UCCS' lead to a comfortable 20-12 before claiming the set win, 25-21.
- Unlike the third set, the Mountain Lions were unable to take a lead over Truman State, trailing by as many as 12 points (18-6) and falling to TSU 25-21. Despite the setback, UCCS outgained Truman State in kills (17-14) and hitting percentage (.293 - .256) but committed three service errors in the setback.
- Heading into a winner-take-all set, the Mountain Lions jumped the Bulldogs to a 5-2 lead. TSU was able to inch back in front of UCCS halfway through the set, but Pruitt put down two kills to account for UCCS' final three points and lead the Mountain Lions to a 3-2 match win, 15-11.
MATCH STATISTICS VS. TSU
- Pruitt recorded a match high 21 kills and added 13 digs, two aces and a block assist.
- Tompkins finished the match win with 15 kills, a .200 hitting mark and 13 digs.
- Addie Stephens played all five sets as the Mountain Lions libero, notching 17 digs and three assists.
- Mitrovich accounted for 50 of UCCS' 56 set assists, and she chipped in four kills and 17 digs.
- The Mountain Lions hit a solid .228 at the net with nine blocks, 68 kills and 84 digs.
- Truman State's Jessica Proszenyak accumulated a team high 13 kills and paired them with 13 digs.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- More than half of the Mountain Lions that saw action today recorded career highs: Ahlers (11 kills), Fredrick (20 attacks, six kills, 5 blocks), Rylie Hahn (11 digs), Mitrovich (50 assists, 17 digs), Pitts (26 attacks), Pruitt (13 digs, .294 hitting mark), and Stephens (17 digs).
- UCCS' 84 digs against Truman State are a new season high.
- The Mountain Lions are 2-0 this season in five-set matches.
UP NEXT
- UCCS will open the conference season next weekend on the road when they head to Spearfish, S.D. to take on Black Hills State University on Friday, Sept. 20 at 3 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.
