UNC Mirror

Issue date: 10/10/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: File Photo Allison Raguse, along with the University of Northern Colorado volleyball team, battle against Northern Arizona for better Big Sky Conference tournament seeding on Saturday, Homecoming weekend.

As the University of Northern Colorado women's volleyball team has made its way through the season, it has faced some very important matches.

The encounter with the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, however, may just take the cake.

With position in the Big Sky Conference tournament on the line, the Bears (5-14, 3-4) will look to secure a victory against a surging Northern Arizona (8-9, 3-4) squad on Saturday night at Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion.

According to coach Lyndsey Benson, the significance of the game has been made perfectly clear.

"This is a make or break match for us in terms of seeding for the tournament," Benson said.

The Bears will face a tough challenge from a Lumberjacks team, which comes to Greeley having won their last two matches and features the reigning conference player of the week, Kim Babcock. From Oct. 1 through Sunday, Babcock averaged 6.83 kills, five digs and 1.17 blocks per game. Her 5.61 kills per game average is currently second in Division I.

Though stopping her may be next to impossible, Benson said senior outsider hitter Dulcie Stone and sophomore outside hitter Kenzie Shreeve will be up to the task.

"If (Babcock) can make plays they're going to be successful; if we can slow her down, we're going to be successful," Benson said. "You can't stop her, you just have to slow her down, and like I said, I like our match up against her."

The Bears will also look to get ahead early, since the first game has often set a deciding tone for the rest of the match this season. After winning the first game, the Bears are 3-1 in Big Sky matches. In the meantime, they are 0-3 when dropping the first game. However, Stone said the team is improving and will soon be able to break the streak.

"Every time we walk out there we're getting more and more mentally tough," Stone said. "Of course we want to come out with the momentum and take it to them but I think even if we were down a game we'll still have the mental ability to come back."

Junior defensive specialist Lauren Carter agrees, and stressed the importance of continuing to play the same way as they did in their last conference win against Idaho State.

"We got to come out strong, stay strong, don't let them go on any huge runs," Carter said.

While liking her team's chances, Benson said the match might come down to whichever team shows up the most prepared to play.

"I mean they've had ups and downs like we have this season," Benson said. "You know, it'll depend on which team shows up ready to play for an entire match."

The Bears and the Lumberjacks will play the match with Big Sky tournament standings implications starting at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion.

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