DENVER, CO- The Cougars continued conference play on Saturday with their second RMAC matchup at crosstown rivals Regis. After dropping a tight first set, CCU rolled in the next three to claim the four-set victory and improve to 2-0 in RMAC action.
The first set was a back and forth affair as each team threw punches and counterpunches. An early three-point run had the Rangers up 8-4, but CCU answered with a six-point stretch that saw a pair of
Connelly Kilgore aces and a trio of kills from
Suzanna Conner for the 13-10 lead. The teams eventually stood level at 18 apiece before Regis went ahead by three late. CCU rallied back for a set point, but the hosts battled back to take the set 28-26.
The first set loss seemed to light a fire under the Cougars as they came out strong in the second with kills by Kilgore and
Sienna Thatcher. Leading 9-8, CCU went on a pivotal seven-point run led by an
Aaliyah Simpson ace and blocks by
Krista Traynor and
Jenna Bell and Kilgore and Bell as well. Bell got in on the attack with a kill for the 22-10 lead, and they closed things out 25-18 off a Thatcher slam.
The Cougars carried the momentum into set three and continued to roll, taking a 12-7 lead after another Bell kill. Rangers miscues and a Kilgore kill made it 23-13, and Conner sealed the set win with a kill 25-16.
Determined to close the match out in four sets, Colorado Christian battled back and forth to a 10-10 tie. They then scored 7 of the next 8 points to seize control, and Thatcher and SImpson combined for a block and each had kills to make it 21-12. Kilgore slammed one home for match point, and Traynor sealed the deal with a kill for the 25-17 victory.
The offense was in rhythm against the Rangers as Kilgore paced the team with 15 kills followed by 13 each from Conner and Thatcher. Traynor had another strong night with 29 assists, and
Allie Allen was stellar at libero with 22 digs. Bell was strong at the net with five blocks, and Kilgore notched three aces on a strong night for the team from the service line.
Sitting at a perfect 2-0 in conference play, the Cougars will now get set for their home opener on September 18 at 6 p.m. MST against Black Hills State.
