PUEBLO, Colo. (September 21, 2019) – Colorado State University-Pueblo Volleyball swatted 19 blocks to defeat Colorado Mesa University in five sets (21-25, 25-19, 25-18, 22-25, 15-9) in an upset at Massari Arena.
With their 19 blocks, the Pack finished a half-block shy of the team record. The win was the Pack's first victory over the Mavericks since this same day in 2013, when they also beat the Mavericks in five sets at Massari Arena.
The Pack hit .303 for the match. This was their highest hitting percentage in a match since 2015.
Diamond'Nique Young (Fr., Fresno, Calif.) recorded a career-high 10 blocks. Young swatted three solo blocks and seven block assists. The freshman also put down 12 kills, the most of her young Pack career. Young earned her first double-double.
Jazzy Espinoza (So., Cheyenne, Wyo.) narrowly missed a double-double of her own. Espinoza knocked down 10 kills and hit an incredible .500. She finished with nine blocks including one solo block and eight block assists. This was Espinoza's first double-digit kill performance with the Pack.
Maddy Wisniewski (Jr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.) totaled 12 kills. Wisniewski dominated when it counted smacking five kills in the fifth set and adding one block. Wisniewski hit .440 for the match. She clinched the match for the Pack with a block and two kills in the final three points.
Brooke Schilling (Jr., Platteville, Colo.) led the Pack with 14 kills. She finished with a double-double for the second consecutive game thanks to 11 digs. Schilling swatted a career-high six blocks.
Senior,
Sarah Vang (Parker, Colo.) also reached double-digit kills, putting away 11 points. She hit .364. Defensively, Vang had eight digs and four blocks.
Kelsey Bell (Sr., Los Lunas, N.M.) earned her fourth double-double of the season. Bell set season-highs with 28 assists. She also had 11 digs. Bell dropped in four aces.
Following their upset win over the Mavericks, the Pack will travel north to South Dakota to face Black Hills State University Friday at 7 p.m. They will also look to continue their momentum at South Dakota School of Mines Saturday at 1 p.m.
After losing a competitive first set, the Pack took over in the second. They won the second set 25-19 and the third set 25-18. The Pack looked to have the fourth set in hand with a 21-16 lead, but the Mavericks went on a 9-1 run to force a fifth set. With the fifth set tied at 7-7 , the Pack went on an 8-2 run to clinch the match.
Leaders of the Pack:
Kills: Schilling (14)
Assists: Bell (28)
Digs: Page Heller (18)
Blocks: Young (10)
Aces: Bell (4)
Hitting Pct (min. 5 kills).: Espinoza (.500)
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Colorado State University – Pueblo competes in 22 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.
