LAKEWOOD, CO- Colorado Christian returned home for their first RMAC match at the CCU Event Center this year against CSU Pueblo on Friday. Taking on a strong Thunderwolves team, the Cougars fell in four sets after a tough battle.
HOW IT HAPPENED- The two teams fought back and forth to start the game, with the Cougars gaining a 7-6 edge on a kill from Alli Douglass. A four point run put CSU Pueblo ahead, but an ace from Tarryn Debenedetto cut the deficit to 18-16. A kill from Lilly Woods and a Douglass ace brought the deficit to one point at 20-19 before Libby Goodman took over with three straight kills to give her team a 22-21 lead. After a mini Thunderwolves run, Goodman slammed another ball home to tie things at 23. However, CSU Pueblo snagged the final two points with kills to clinch the set 25-23.
Set two was controlled by the Thunderwolves from the jump as they snagged an early 8-3 lead. The Cougars fought back to within 9-7 on a kill from Woods and later an attack error brought the deficit to just 13-12. From there CSU Pueblo would rattle off several four and five point runs to take command and close the set 25-14.
Determined to push the match longer, Colorado Christian took a quick 3-0 lead on a kill from Goodman. Renee Phillips made it 8-4 before things began to tighten up. The Thunderwolves hung around all set, but an ace from Abigail Newell gave the Cougars a 19-15 advantage. Goodman and Phillips pushed the lead to 23-19 with consecutive kills, and an ace from Jessa Rose closed the set with a scoreline of 25-21 as the match headed to a fourth set.
Set four was a battle to the end, with the two teams trading blows as it stood at 11 apiece midway through the set. A Cougars run led by back-to-back aces from Rose made it 16-12 in favor of the hosts before CSU Pueblo climbed back to tie things at 19. Phillips made it 23-21 with a kill, but the Thunderwolves picked up several kills and an ace as they stormed back to claim the set and the match by a score of 25-23.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
UP NEXT- The Cougars are back at home tomorrow at 5 p.m. to take on the Mountain Lions from UCCS.
