GUNNISON, CO- The Cougars continued their roadtrip on Saturday with an evening matchup at Western Colorado. CCU dominated the first two sets before dropping the third but bounced back to win comfortably in four sets.

Colorado Christian got going early with a block from Renee Phillips and Abby Breeding for a 5-3 lead, and later Phillips keyed a four point run with a trio of kills. Another six point run was highlighted by a block from Abby Newell and Lilly Woods and an Izzy Jones kill as CCU jumped further ahead 21-13. A Breeding kill closed out a strong first set win 25-15.

The second set began with the Mountaineers showing some fight, but trailing 9-7, the Cougars went on an unprecedented 17 point run to go from trailing to set point. A Jones ace kicked off the run, and kills from Suzanna Conner and Newell stretched the advantage to 16-9. Connelly Kilgore notched back-to-back kills, and Woods slammed one home to put an exclamation mark on the run that sent CCU to set point at 24-9. Newell closed the set with a kill for the dominant 25-11 victory. 

Western Colorado showed some resiliency in the third set, jumping to a lead and never looking back. They eventually found themselves at set point 24-14, and after kills from Newell and Breeding, the Mountaineers closed the set out 25-16 to force a fourth set. 

The visitors were intent on not letting the match reach a deciding fifth set, and Phillips started the set well with a pair of kills for a 5-3 lead early. Phillips continued her hot hand with another kill, and a Conner ace made it 16-9. Newell registered two more kills for a 21-14 advantage, and the Cougars closed the match out with a five point run capped by a block from Conner and Woods and a Woods kill finished the set and match out 25-14.

The offense was humming yet again, hitting for a percentage of .330 while holding the Mountaineers to .120 on the night. Newell notched 15 kills while Phillips matched her teammate with 15 as well. Breeding put down 10 kills and paced the defense with 14 digs. Jones was excellent with 44 assists, and Woods registered an impressive eight blocks. 

The Cougars return to the Mile High City for a non-conference pod play matchup at MSU Denver on October 1 at 6 p.m. MST.