Box Score
Box Score
LARAMIE, Wyo. --- Sophomore Madison Smith recorded 16 assists and seven digs and freshman Monica Jordan added a career high nine assists with 10 digs, but the Northern Colorado Bears held off Pilot rallies in each set for a 3-0 sweep (25-18, 25-18, 25-20) Saturday morning at the UniWyo Sports Complex.
The Pilots (4-5) kept each set within reach, but the Bears (9-2) prevented the Pilots from stringing together point runs. Trailing 12-8 in the first set, the Pilots used kills from Smith and junior Kati Hronek to pull within a point, but the Bears rallied to take six of the eight points to establish a lead before taking the set.
Early in the second set, the Pilots capitalized on a few errors by the Bears to pull even at 8-8. Just like in the first set, a Northern Colorado timeout slowed the Pilots’ momentum as the Bears went on a 7-2 run en route to the second set victory.
The third set featured both teams trading points with each other. Northern Colorado built a 15-10 lead before Portland went on a 6-2 scoring run to bring the Pilots within one. The Bears recovered with a timeout to take three consecutive points and five of the next seven.
Hronek led the Pilots with eight kills while Ashley Lichtenberg led all players with nine. Natalie LaBand recorded 36 assists for the Bears. Freshman Christina Harris, who recorded her first two career service aces in yesterday’s matches, added two more in the match. Harris added a career-high seven digs.
Portland continues with the Cowgirl Classic Saturday evening as the Pilots take on the UT Arlington Mavericks (3-6). This will be the first meeting between the two programs.
