In UCCS volleyball’s first match coming off of the RMAC Power Pod, the Mountain Lions couldn’t keep up with the Colorado School of Mines, losing their fourth of their last five matches, 3-1.
Hannah Kinnison from the Colorado School of Mines started the game off strong with a kill. However, a serious lead couldn’t be obtained at the start, as both teams were scoring back-to-back.
The Mountain Lions started to fall apart while up 16-13, making many mistakes that caused the Orediggers to score seven consecutive points, with the final point of the streak being an ace.
Despite taking a timeout, the Mountain Lions couldn’t get back to form, and the Orediggers took advantage of their mistakes. Jenna McLaughlin for the School of Mines ended the set with a kill, punishing the Mountain Lions with a score of 25-21 to take the first set.
The second set was where UCCS found their footing. UCCS freshman outside hitter Payton Tompkins opened the set with the first point, slowly bringing the momentum back home and leading UCCS to gain a seven-point streak of their own.
UCCS composed their strength throughout the set, rarely letting the Orediggers score. On the final point, Tompkins once again jumped into the air, slamming the ball to the center of the court where no defenders even had a chance to save the ball from hitting the floor, tying up the sets.
But the Orediggers got back to their feet in the third set. Without gaining a big lead, the Orediggers were consistent in keeping the Mountain Lions two points or less behind. With set point on the horizon for the Orediggers, 24-16, the Mountain Lions progressed one last push with a kill from sophomore outside hitter Sydnee Walker.
Following that was a service ace, and then an attack error by the Orediggers’ Brianna Binder, getting the Mountain Lions to 19. Correcting her mistakes, though, Binder finished off the set with a kill, making the final score of the third set 25-19, in favor of the Orediggers.
With the match score being 2-1 in favor of School of Mines, UCCS had to cling on to whatever they could. The Mountain Lions stood their ground, making the game a constant back and forth between the two teams. No one had any significant lead on points throughout the entire set until UCCS was leading the fourth set 24-22.
The Orediggers took a timeout to recollect themselves and bounced back to tie the match. Under pressure, the Mountain Lions couldn’t hold their defenses. Binder finished the game off with two kills, ending the fourth set 26-24, and the match, 3-1.
Tompkins for UCCS was the kill leader with 22. The Orediggers’ Kinnison led the kill count with 14.
This loss brought the Mountain Lions record to 10-13 and 4-7 in the RMAC. The Orediggers now secure a 9-14 regular season record and are 5-6 in the RMAC. Colorado School of Mines leads the all-time record against UCCS 31-25.
The Mountain Lions’ next match will be at home in the Gallogly Events Center against the Metro State University Roadrunners on Nov. 12 at 6 p.m.
Outsider hitter #6 Sydnee Walker playing against Adams State on Oct. 31. Photo by Lillian Davis.