OGDEN, Utah (November 20, 2021) – Northern Colorado was crowned the 2021 Big Sky Volleyball Tournament Champions and took home the coveted Big Sky trophy after defeating Weber State 3-2 (30-28, 21-25, 14-25, 25-22, 15-8) on Saturday night.
The Bears claimed their second tournament title in three years after winning the title in 2019. The Bears have now won the Big Sky tournament six times.
Northern Colorado and Weber State have played in the past three tournament finals.
"This is the third year that we've been in the final with them," said Northern Colorado head coach Lyndsey Oates. "We felt like we could compete with them this year. We split with them in the regular season. Weber State is such a veteran team, and we're a lot younger than they are, but I felt like talent-wise we could match up, and I couldn't be more proud of our girls right now."
In the first set, neither team led by more than three points, and that spread came in the opening minutes of the set. Northern Colorado jumped out to a 3-0 lead with back-to-back kills and then a service ace. Weber State worked their way back into the set at 5-5 and took their first lead on the next point. From there, both teams battled to the first set point.
Northern Colorado had their first chance to close out the set, but a kill from Weber State's Rylin Adams turned back the Bears and tied the set at 24-24. After a Wildcat service ace to take a 25-24 lead, Northern Colorado's Rachel Hickman denied the Wildcat's attempt to close out the match with a kill for the Bears.
Adams again put Weber State in a position to win the set with another kill, but Lauren Strain denied the Wildcats a second time. Sam Schiess put the Wildcats back at set point for a third time with a kill, but UNC's Syd Cole responded with a kill of her own.
Once again, Adams put the Wildcats in a position to win the set for the fourth time, but the Wildcats were turned away by back-to-back kills from Kailey Jo Ince to give Northern Colorado the advantage.
An attacking error from Weber State ended the set 30-28 in favor of the Bears, who took a 1-0 lead in the match.
The Bears looked to take control of the second set when they jumped out to a 5-0 lead over the Wildcats. Weber State used a 5-0 run to tie the set at 5-5. The remainder of the set went much like the first one, with both teams going back and forth and neither getting more than a two-point advantage.
The momentum shifted in the second set in Weber State's favor when a kill from Adams gave Weber State a three-point lead, 22-19. After an attack error on the Bears, Weber State had set point and closed out set two with a kill from Emma Mangum. The Wildcats 25-21 set two victory tied the match at 1-1.
Weber State claimed the third set in dominating fashion, 25-14, as they found a rhythm that the Bears struggled to stop. Weber State took a 2-1 lead in the match.
The third set went much like the first two, with neither team willing to surrender any ground. The Bears were able to work a five-point lead, 15-10 midway through the set, and controlled it the rest of the way. Northern Colorado forced a deciding fifth set after picking up the 25-22 set four victory to tie the match at 2-2.
The Bears jumped out to a 3-0 lead to start the set, but the Wildcats clawed their way back in to tie the game at 4-4. Four straight kills from Makenzie Harris put the Bears back in front, and they would not look back as they won the last set to complete the come from behind victory and won 15-8.
Adams finished the night with a double-double performance that included a career-high 27 kills and 15 blocks. She hit a .289 mark while also recording three aces and two blocks. Schiess scored on 14 swings and ended the night hitting. 538. Schiess added 13 blocks on the night to cap off another double-double performance for the Wildcats.
Adams and Schiess were both named to the All-Tournament team.
Harris, the tournament MVP, led the Bears with 23 kills and added 22 digs for a double-double performance. Hickman and Lauren Strain each added 16 kills for the Bears. Harris, Hickman, and Strain were all named to the All-Tournament team.
As a team, the Bears totaled 107 digs which were instrumental in holding back the offensive power of the Wildcats.
With tonight's victory, Northern Colorado earned the Big Sky's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Bears will have to wait until November 28, when the NCAA will let them know where they will be dancing. The selection show will be aired live on ESPNU.
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All-Tournament Team
MVP: Makenzie Harris, Northern Colorado
Rachel Hickman, Northern Colorado
Lauren Strain, Northern Colorado
Rylin Adams, Weber State
Sam Schiess, Weber State
Kira Thomsen, Montana State
Parker Webb, Portland State