DENVER, Colo. – The Colorado State University Pueblo volleyball team picked up a huge victory Friday evening, sweeping the University of Colorado Colorado Springs in straight sets (25-18, 25-16, 30-28) in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Regional Pod match at the Auraria Event Center.
The victory was a much-needed one for the ThunderWolves, who improved to 10-12 overall and 4-6 in RMAC play, while UCCS fell to 13-9 overall and 8-2 in conference action.
Facing a Mountain Lions squad that entered Friday's contest with just two conference losses, the Pack delivered one of its most complete performances of the season, combining an efficient offensive attack with a dominant presence at the net to secure the three-set sweep.
Senior outside hitter Lilly Zwart led the ThunderWolves offensively, finishing with a match-high 11 kills on an impressive .417 hitting percentage, committing just one attack error on 24 swings. Zwart also contributed six digs, one service ace and a block assist.
Sophomore middle blocker Andi Nothdurft continued her impressive season at the net, recording six kills and a match-high seven blocks, including one solo rejection and six block assists. Nothdurft finished with 10 points in the victory.
The ThunderWolves also received a strong performance from Brianna Pino, who tallied eight kills, seven digs and two block assists, while Finja Schul and Natalie Mobley each added six kills. Schul hit .357 and added three block assists, while Mobley contributed five block assists.
Running the ThunderWolves' offense was setter Kendall Schmitz, who dished out 28 assists while adding nine digs, two kills, a service ace and two blocks. Defensively, Chinaru Pao anchored the back row with a match-high 17 digs.
As a team, CSU Pueblo hit an efficient .279 for the match, recording 39 kills against just 10 attacking errors on 104 attempts. The ThunderWolves held UCCS to a .126 hitting percentage and dominated the blocking battle, 11-2.
SET ONE: CSU Pueblo 25, UCCS 18
The ThunderWolves wasted little time establishing themselves in the opening set, jumping out to a 9-4 advantage behind a balanced offensive attack.
After UCCS trimmed the deficit, CSU Pueblo responded with another strong stretch, extending its lead to 19-9 following back-to-back points from Zwart.
The Mountain Lions attempted to claw their way back into the opening frame, putting together a four-point run to cut the Pack's lead to 20-16. However, the ThunderWolves remained composed and closed out the set by winning five of the final seven points.
CSU Pueblo hit .324 in the opening frame, recording 14 kills on 34 attempts with just three attacking errors.
SET TWO: CSU Pueblo 25, UCCS 16
The Pack carried its momentum into the second set, delivering one of its most dominant stretches of the evening to take complete control of the match.
Leading 6-4 early in the frame, CSU Pueblo rattled off seven consecutive points behind the serving of Mobley, pushing its advantage to 13-4.
The ThunderWolves continued to apply pressure, extending their lead to 17-5 behind a pair of blocks and a kill from Zwart.
UCCS struggled to find an offensive rhythm against the Pack's defense, hitting -.023 in the frame with nine kills and 10 attacking errors.
CSU Pueblo maintained its comfortable advantage down the stretch before Zwart delivered the set-clinching kill to give the ThunderWolves a commanding two-set lead.
SET THREE: CSU Pueblo 30, UCCS 28
With its back against the wall, UCCS came out aggressively in the third set, forcing the ThunderWolves into a tightly contested battle that featured 18 ties and eight lead changes.
The Mountain Lions built an 11-8 advantage before the Pack rallied to even the score at 15-15 behind a pair of blocks involving Nothdurft and Mobley.
Neither team could create much separation down the stretch, as the two squads traded points before CSU Pueblo grabbed a 24-22 advantage following a kill from Schul.
UCCS refused to go away, scoring back-to-back points to tie the frame at 24-24 and eventually taking a 28-27 lead, threatening to extend the match to a fourth set.
However, the ThunderWolves had other plans.
Facing set point, the Pack capitalized on a Mountain Lions attacking error to even the score at 28-28. CSU Pueblo followed with another point off a UCCS attacking error to move ahead 29-28, setting the stage for Zwart.
The senior delivered the final blow, hammering home her 11th kill of the evening off an assist from Schmitz to secure the dramatic 30-28 set victory and complete the straight-set sweep.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
-
CSU Pueblo finished with a .279 hitting percentage, compared to just .126 for UCCS.
-
The ThunderWolves dominated the net, outblocking the Mountain Lions 11-2.
-
Zwart led the Pack with 11 kills while hitting a match-best .417 among CSU Pueblo players with at least 10 attempts.
-
Nothdurft recorded seven total blocks, while Mobley added five block assists.
-
Schmitz handed out 28 assists and added nine digs.
-
Pao led all players with 17 digs.
-
CSU Pueblo held UCCS to a negative hitting percentage (-.023) in the second set.
-
The third set featured 18 ties and eight lead changes before the Pack prevailed 30-28.
The victory gives CSU Pueblo an important boost in its pursuit of a berth in the RMAC Tournament as the ThunderWolves continue their push toward the postseason.
