DENVER, Colo. – The University of Colorado Colorado Springs volleyball team battled Colorado State University Pueblo through three competitive sets Friday night at the Auraria Event Center, but the Mountain Lions fell to the ThunderWolves, 3-0, as part of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Power Pod.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
- Final Score: L, 0-3 (18-25, 16-25, 28-30)
- Records: UCCS (13-8, 8-2 RMAC) | CSUP (9-12, 4-6 RMAC)
- Facility | Location: Auraria Event Center | Denver, Colo.
- All-Time Series: The Mountain Lions move to 34-37 all-time against CSU Pueblo.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UCCS and CSU Pueblo traded points early in the opening set before the ThunderWolves began to create separation. With CSU Pueblo leading 10-7, the Mountain Lions scored four of the next five points behind kills from Nicole Himebauch, Sydni Lafasciano and Payton Tompkins to pull within 11-10. CSU Pueblo answered with a 5-0 run to extend its advantage to 16-10. UCCS battled back late, cutting the deficit to 23-18, but the ThunderWolves closed out the set, 25-18.
- CSU Pueblo carried its momentum into the second set, taking an early 5-2 lead. The Mountain Lions responded with kills from Sydnee Walker, Himebauch and Karlee Pinell, but the ThunderWolves continued to build their advantage. UCCS trailed 15-9 before consecutive kills from Tompkins helped bring the Mountain Lions within six. CSU Pueblo answered with another stretch of scoring to take a 21-13 lead and eventually claimed the set, 25-16.
- The Mountain Lions opened the third set with a kill from Tompkins and battled back and forth with the ThunderWolves throughout the frame. CSU Pueblo held an 11-8 advantage before UCCS rallied to tie the set at 11-11. The ThunderWolves regained the lead, but kills from Himebauch, Walker and Tompkins kept UCCS within striking distance. The Mountain Lions eventually erased a 20-17 deficit and took a 24-23 lead on a Himebauch kill, forcing CSU Pueblo into a timeout. The ThunderWolves answered to extend the set, and the teams continued trading points deep into extra points. With the set tied at 28-28, CSU Pueblo scored the final two points to secure the 30-28 win and complete the sweep.
MATCH STATISTICS
- Himebauch led the Mountain Lions with 11 kills, while Sydney Hyde added eight kills and Tompkins finished with seven.
- Tompkins also recorded 10 digs, while Himebauch added two digs.
- Aubrey Miller led the UCCS offense with 19 assists, while Charlette Albers contributed 13 assists.
- Alysse Marcoso paced the Mountain Lions defensively with 14 digs, while Walker added seven and Miller recorded seven.
- UCCS finished with 42 kills on 135 attacks and hit .126 as a team.
- CSU Pueblo recorded 39 kills and hit .279, while totaling 11 blocks against the Mountain Lions.
- The Pack were led by Lily Zwart's 11 kills and .417 hitting mark.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Tompkins is now tied for sixth all-time for most kills at UCCS (1,045).
- UCCS' 135 total attempts tonight are the most in a three-set match this season, and their 53 digs ties a 2026 season high.
UP NEXT
- UCCS will close out its regular season home schedule next weekend. The Mountain Lions will play host to Western Colorado University on Friday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. On Saturday, UCCS will face Fort Lewis College 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.
