LAKEWOOD, CO- The Colorado Christian University volleyball team earned an important home-court victory in four sets over CSU Pueblo on Tuesday evening, showcasing their resilience and determination against a respected Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opponent to improve to 4-1 in conference play.
Coming off a tough loss to Colorado School of Mines last Friday, the Cougars entered Tuesday's match ready to respond. CSU Pueblo entered the match on a three-game win streak, including a notable five-set road victory over UCCS.
Connelly Kilgore began what would be a career night as she picked up the first kill of the match for her team in set one, and
Sienna Thatcher put down consecutive kills in a back and forth start to the match. The Thunderwolves would go on a five-point run to take a 14-8 lead, but CCU responded well as they scored six straight in a run that featured two kills apiece from Traynor and Kilgore and a pair of aces from Thatcher for an 18-17 lead. Tied at 20-20, CCU used kills from Traynor and Kilgore to go ahead 22-20. After a
Suzanna Conner kill gave the Cougars a 23-22 lead, another Conner kill and an
Allie Allen ace sealed a thrilling 25-22 set one victory.
CSU Pueblo responded in set two by surging ahead 6-1 early, but CCU refused to go away. Several attack errors from the visitors and a trio of Thatcher kills tied the set at 9 apiece, and a
Blake Coors ace saw them go ahead 11-10.
Aaliyah Simpson notched a pair of kills to tie the set at 17-17, but the Thunderwolves closed the set out strong to claim a 25-21 victory and level the match at a set apiece.
A back and forth battle ensued in set three as neither team pulled away throughout. A Traynor kill saw the Cougars take an early 8-5 advantage, but a swing of momentum saw CSUP take a 11-9 lead moments later. Kilgore continued to have the hot hand from the outside with a pair of kills, while a block from Traynor and Simpson made it 20-15. Leading 21-17, the visitors roared back with five straight for the 22-21 lead. It was Kilgore who refused to let her team lose the set, putting down two kills in the final sequence to give her team the 25-23 set win.
Intent on ending things in four sets, Traynor and Simpson comboed for another block to make it 7-6 early. A five-point run midway through the set put CSU Pueblo ahead 15-11, but the Cougars never relented and kept things close. Kilgore put down consecutive kills as the gap closed to 20-19, and eventually the hosts climbed back to tie things at 22-22. CSUP won the next two points to bring up a set point, but a Conner kill and huge solo block from Simpson tied things again at 24 apiece. Facing another set point at 25-24, CCU rattled off the final three points of the match as Conner and Thatcher notched kills and the final attack attempt from the Thunderwolves sailed just long for the 27-25 victory to seal the four-set win.
Kilgore had a monster night, racking up 21 kills to pace the offense. Three other Cougars joined her in double digit kills as Thatcher had 14, Conner tallied 13 and Traynor had 10.
Kendra Runyon was excellent with a team high 30 assists followed by Traynor with 25, while Allen had 16 digs and Traynor completed the triple-double with 15 digs. Simpson was fantastic on defense all night with pivotal blocks at crucial moments, tallying a total of seven to lead her team.
The victory gives the Cougars momentum as they prepare for their next RMAC matchup when CCU will travel to face Colorado School of Mines on Friday, Oct. 2, at 6:00 p.m. MST.
