LAKEWOOD, CO – The Cougars returned to their home court on Thursday to battle against Colorado School of Mines for the third time this season. After a hard-fought battle, CCU came away with the sweep for their third win of the season against the Orediggers. 

The Cougars started set one strong with a service ace by Shelby Hernandez and a setter kill by Izzy Jones to take the early lead of 6-2. Going up against a strong Mines block and defense, Suzanna Connor and Megan McNitt both secured 3 kills. A kill from Renee Phillips put the Cougars up 17-13 and still looking strong. The Orediggers continued a strong defensive game to tie the set up 24-24, but a kill from Abby Newell and stuff block from Lilly Woods and Connor led the Cougars to victory 26-24.

Going into the second set, both teams rallied back and forth for points, with the Orediggers taking the early lead. The Cougars trailed 5-7, but back-to-back kills from McNitt, Phillips, and Newell brought the Cougars back to lead 10-7 to force a Mines timeout. The Cougars continued to dominate with a strong defensive line and a solo block from McNitt to extend their lead 18-12 and force another Mines timeout. Multiple blocks and an ace from the Orediggers brought the set to 22-19, but with multiple kills from Newell and Connor, the Cougars achieved a set number two win 25-21.

Colorado Christian continued to play their game and earned double kills from Connor and Phillips to take the early lead of 3-1 and stayed strong offensively to extend their lead 11-8. The Orediggers continued their fight, but a kill and a service ace from Phillips extended the Cougars lead to 17-13. Phillips adding to her strong resume, recorded three straight kills and a stuff block to end the game 25-17 in a Cougar victory over the Orediggers for the third time this season. 

McNitt and Connor dominated offensively tallying 10 and 11 kills respectfully, and Phillips kept a strong presence at the net with 9 kills and 3 blocks. Jones ran her offense with an impressive 35 assists. Hernandez and Savannah Overson controlled the back line with 15 and 9 digs and Kristina House controlled the receive game with 20 service receptions .  

The Cougars will continue play with another home matchup against Westminster on Saturday November 2nd at 5 p.m. MST.