LAKEWOOD, CO - Colorado Christian University hosted RMAC opponent Black Hills State in their 2026 home opener alongside a thunderous crowd Friday night. The Cougars and Yellowjackets competed in four competitive sets in the CCU Event center, with the hosts ultimately losing 3-1.
CCU opened the match behind a flurrry of
Suzanna Conner and
Connelly Kilgore kills. The Cougars led 12-8 before Black Hills State rallied to tie the set at 14-14 led by Izzy Saiki. Blocks from
Krista Traynor and
Aaliyah Simpson made things interesting as both teams traded leads late.
Sienna Thatcher entered the game and immediately delivered a clutch kill to tie the set at 24-24, but Black Hills State ultimately closed out the set with a kill from Izabel Abril, taking set one with a score of 29-27.
Kilgore helped CCU establish another early advantage in the second set, recording a kill and back-to-back service aces. Brooklyn Frazier repeatedly kept rallies alive with her tenacity on defense, always finding herself on the floor. This was paired with more Conner kills and the Cougars were able to build positive moments once again. Black Hills State eventually cracked a seven-point lead, but was met with a late Cougar push to cut the deficit to three at 21-24. The Yellow Jackets answered with Saiki putting this set away with 4 kills, securing the final point herself at 25-21.
Facing a two-set deficit, the Cougars responded emphatically in the third. Conner opened the set with a kill before CCU built control behind strong defensive plays and timely attacks.
Sierra Crist made an immediate impact after entering the match, finishing the set with six kills.
Ana Aguilar also provided a spark with a kill and a tip, while Saiki continued her excellent play. contributing a kill and a diving dig. Crist's offense continued to fuel the Cougars as they pulled away, and she capped the set with another tip to give CCU a confident 25-16 victory rolling into set four.
Black Hills State regained control early but it was not without the CCU student section doing their part. After Frazier's leap into the student section, many of the students in attendance roared with passion. Conner and Thatcher contributed blocks, while Saiki, Peyton McLeod and Carsyn Mettler added kills to keep the Cougars out of reach. However, CCU continued fighting late, with Crist and Mettler trading blows offensively, recording two aggressive kills. However, the momentum quickly faded from the Cougars as mistakes piled up leading to a 25-16 fourth set loss.
Thatcher led the Cougars with 40 kills, while Conner and Crist each recorded 10 kills apiece. Traynor added nine kills, 33 assists and 14 digs, while Frazier led CCU with 19 digs. As a team, CCU finished with 58 kills, 57 assists, 94 digs and 10 total blocks.Â
The Cougars move to 5-4 overall and 2-1 in conference play following the four-set setback. CCU will look to right the ship tomorrow when they host South Dakota Mines at 3 p.m. MST.Â
