Oct. 21, 2000

Box Score

VERMILLION, S.D. - The No.-9 ranked Northern Colorado Bears (19-5, 9-2) defeated the University of South Dakota Coyotes, 3-1, in North Central Conference action before 122 people in the DakotaDome.

The Coyotes (10-19, 2-9 in the NCC) played the nationally-ranked Bears tough but could not maintain consistency and lost for the fifth straight time. In each of the first two games, the score was tied at 10-10 before the Bears outserved and outplayed the Coyotes at the net to win both games by 15-10 scores. In the third game, the Coyotes and Bears went back and forth before South Dakota took control late in the match. The Coyotes had 23 kills on 47 attacks for a .447 hitting percentage in game three. Northern Colorado regained control in game four when they had 15 kills on 36 attacks for a .361 hitting percentage. The Bears jumped to a 9-2 lead, en route to a 15-5 win.

South Dakota had 65 kills on 171 attacks for a .292 hitting percentage, which was better than Northern Colorado, who had 59 kills on 169 attacks for a .266 hitting percentage. However, a key statistic was each team's service games. While Northern Colorado had nine service aces and only four errors, the Coyotes could muster just four service aces and had 11 service errors. Overall, South Dakota had 75 defensive digs while the Bears had 70. Northern Colorado had eight team blocks and South Dakota recorded four. Sophomore Amber Abrams led South Dakota with 21 kills on 49 attacks for a .327 hitting percentage. Freshman Becky Olson had 15 kills on 31 attacks for a .452 hitting percentage, and freshman Sarah Vollertsen had 13 kills on 32 attacks. Sophomore Leslie Fusinato had 28 defensive digs and junior Stacy Gonnerman had 13. Freshman Angela Golesh had 54 set assists.

For the Bears, Eric Deffenbaugh had 27 kills on 60 attacks for a .400 hitting percentage. She also had team-high 15 defensive digs. Teale Goble had 13 kills on 49 attacks and 10 defensive digs. Linnea Kiilsgaard had 46 set assists for the Bears.