COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs completed a sweep of the Mountain Lion Classic, going 4-0 in the tournament with two more wins on Saturday over the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith in thrilling 3-2 fashion and a hard-fought victory over the University of Mary, 3-1.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final score vs. Arkansas-Fort Smith: 3-2 (26-28, 22-25, 25-23, 25-16, 15-12) | vs. University of Mary: 3-1 (25-17, 16-25, 25-15, 25-21)
- Records: UCCS (4-0, 0-0 RMAC) | UAFS (2-1, 0-0 MIAA) | UM (1-3, 0-0 NISC)
- Facility | Location: Gallogly Events Center | Colorado Springs, Colo.
- All-Time Series: This is only the second match between UCCS and UAFS, with the last matchup coming on Sept. 13, 2019. The Mountain Lions have now evened the series at one apiece. Saturday's match versus UM was the first time UCCS has faced the Marauders in program history, taking a 1-0 advantage.
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. ARKANSAS-FORT SMITH
- The Mountain Lions thrilling match against UAFS started with UCCS up 21-15 late in set number one. However, the UAFS Lions stormed back late and stood on top after the first set, winning 28-26. The second set was evenly matched between the two teams, but the Lions prevailed again with a 25-22 win.
- The third set began with a 21-14 lead from Arkansas-Fort Smith, looking to sweep the Mountain Lions. In the face of adversity, UCCS dug deep, scoring eight points unanswered and grabbing the lead (22-21). This stretch saw immense contributions from Payton Tompkins, Emily Pruitt, and Audrey Dowd. The Lions responded swiftly, grabbing the following two points for a 23-22 lead. The persistent Mountain Lions would not back down and scored three straight points, avoiding the sweep and taking set three, 25-23.
- With momentum now on their side, UCCS took advantage and began set four on a 10-1 run. UAFS cut into their deficit by four (14-10) until Sydnee Walker recorded a kill and followed that with two straight service aces to go up seven (17-10). The Lions brought the game back within five (21-16), but the Mountain Lions determination triumphed, scoring the last four points, finishing set four, and forcing a final set.
- The last set featured the most thrilling action of the match, with both teams fighting neck-and-neck the whole way. The Mountain Lions found themselves down 9-8, but that's when they began to create separation. Middle blocker Avery Ahlers got UCCS started on a four-point run with a kill, followed by successful attacks from Tompkins and Pruitt to take a 12-9 advantage. The Lions brought it back to a one-point game (12-11), but UCCS was set on completing the comeback, winning the fifth set 15-12, with the final blow coming from a Pruitt kill.
MATCH STATISTICS VS. ARKANSAS-FORT SMITH
- The Mountain Lions recorded 72 kills against the Lions, with 25 of them coming from Pruitt. The freshman had a hit percentage of .254 with eight digs, five block assists, and a game-high 27.5 points.
- Dowd set her teammates up for successful attacks all match, recording 36 in total. Maylen Mitrovich also did her part as a setter, tallying 23 assists in the match.
- Four separate Mountain Lions recorded aces, with those being Walker (3), Tompkins (2), Dowd (2), and Mitrovich (1).
- Compared to their counterparts, UCCS had more kills (72-57), assists (67-53), service aces (8-3), and points (92-75), with a higher hitting percentage (.212-.180) then Arkansas-Fort Smith.
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. UMARY
- UCCS began their second match by managing set one with relative ease. The set was close to start, but the Mountain Lions closed on a 13-7 run capped off by an Avery Ahlers kill, assisted by Maylen Mitrovich, to win 25-17.
- The Marauders had an easier time scoring in the second set as they opened with a 10-5 lead. UCCS would bring their deficit within two (11-9), but UM responded by going on a 6-1 run. The Mountain Lions kept themselves within fighting distance, but the Marauders would close it 25-16 to even the sets at one.
- UCCS went on two separate runs to help them gain a comfortable lead in set three. The first was a 5-0 run to make it 9-4 and a 6-0 run later to go up 16-9. The Mountain Lions rode these scoring barrages to a 9-6 run to capture set three, 25-15, and take a 2-1 lead overall.
- In the final set, UCCS opened on a 7-2 run, looking to close the match. UMary had other plans, though, and would grab an 11-8 lead, taking advantage of Mountain Lions mistakes. The Marauders grew the lead up to four (16-12), but UCCS eventually evened things up at 18. The Mountain Lions grabbed their first lead since it was 7-6 and began to separate after kills from Rylee Pitts and Payton Tompkins. UM kept themselves within striking distance, but Tompkins put the exclamation point on the match after a forceful kill put them up 24-21. After an errant attack from UM, UCCS finished their fourth straight victory, winning the set 25-21.
MATCH STATISTICS VS. UMARY
- Tompkins guided the Mountain Lions to victory over the Marauders, tabbing 18 kills for a hitting percentage of .289 while leading the match in points with 18.5.
- Joining Tompkins in the team's high production was Emily Pruitt, who recorded 11 kills with 12 points. Pitts and Walker notched nine and six kills, respectively.
- The Mountain Lions recorded 10 service aces, with those coming from Mitrovich (5), Walker (3), and Audrey Dowd (2).
- Overall, UCCS held UMary to 39 kills, 38 assists, 56 points, and a hitting percentage of .137. The Mountain Lions, on the other hand, tallied 48 kills, 47 assists, 65 points, and a hitting percentage of .150.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Three Mountain Lions were named to the all-tournament team. Emily Pruitt was voted the MVP and was joined by Payton Tompkins and Audrey Dowd.
- Emily Pruitt's 25 kills in the match versus UAFS ties six former Mountain Lions for the eighth most kills in a five-set match in program history. Pruitt ties Nicole Medlin (2023), Alyssa Brinton (2017), Kim Catlett (2015), Audrey Nelson (2000), Melissa Clark (1992), and Brenda Brown (1991).
- UCCS' 92 points scored against UAFS as a team ranks as the fourth most points scored in a match in program history at the Gallogly Events Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.
- The Mountain Lions have not started a season 4-0 since 2001, where they began that year on an 8-0-win streak.
UP NEXT
- The Mountain Lions head to Hays, Kan., next time out, competing in the FHSU Tiger Classic on Friday, Sept. 13, and Saturday, Sept. 14. UCCS takes on Northwestern Oklahoma State University first on Sept. 13 at 11 a.m. MT at FHSU Gross Memorial Coliseum.
SOCIAL
X –
@GoMountainLions
Instagram –
@gomountainlions
Facebook – /
GoMountainLions
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.
