AJ Blevins
UCCS Volleyball fell to MSU Denver 3-0 and Colorado Christian 3-2 at back-to-back home games on Sept. 24 and Sept. 25.
On Sept. 24, the game against MSU Denver started as a fast-paced back and forth with six lead changes and the score tied 12 times. The Mountain Lions had an edge as the MSU Roadrunners committed four errors in the opening set, allowing the game to tie at 21-21.
A setting error by UCCS would lead to MSU Denver taking a 22-21 lead. Outside hitter/right side graduate student Camden Strain helped tie the game back up bringing it to 22-22. The game continued to go back and forth until the Roadrunners took a three-point lead and won 25-22.
Despite the loss, the Mountain Lions forced the Roadrunners to commit eight service errors. Strain finished with a team high of nine kills, and the team finished with 35 kills, 30 assists, 36 digs and 3 blocks, according to the Go Mountain Lions website.
The team then had to turn around and get ready to face Colorado Christian on Sept. 25. The team came out fast and took a 3-0 lead in the opening set. The Cougars then tied the set five times, but UCCS maintained the lead.
Thanks to an assist from setter redshirt sophomore Emily Ettel, outside hitter redshirt junior Lauryn Shockley was able to put the game away for the first set.
After leading 1-0, the game became a back-and-forth battle between each set. Leading 24-17 in the second set, Colorado Christian would not go away without a fight; they forced four straight attack errors, bringing the game within three points. The Cougars were able to use that momentum to push past the Mountain Lions to take the game 30-28.
UCCS took control and won the third set. Again, a kill from Shockley wrapped up the close win with a kill, ending 25-22. But Colorado Christian took hold of both the fourth and fifth sets, winning both 25-22 and 10-15 respectively.
After two losses, the Mountain Lions fell to 3-8. They will travel to Adams State on Friday, Oct. 1 to face off and then move onto New Mexico Highlands on Saturday, Oct. 2.
