UNC Mirror

Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Travis Heuser Allison Raguse serves during practice with the University of Northern Colorado volleyball team. The Bears go up against one of the most difficult teams they face this season, Portland State, on Thursday.

Heading into Thursday night's game against the Portland State Vikings, the University of Northern Colorado volleyball team is brimming with confidence.

A win against the Big Sky Conference's first place team is bound to do that.

After the upset of Sacramento State, the Bears are riding a wave of emotion after a win, which, according to coach Lyndsey Benson, may be the biggest in years.

"I mean I think the feeling is still there," Benson said. "Such a huge confidence boost for our team. That we can beat the top team in our conference, that means anybody's beatable and it really was the biggest win since we've gone Division I."

The Bears (6-5, 8-16) hope to carry this momentum as they prepare to face Portland State (10-2, 17-6), who is currently in second place in the Big Sky Conference.

According to Benson, the Bears will have to continue to improve offensively as Portland State will present a unique challenge.

"Portland State's a great blocking team, so we got to be ready to cover," Benson said. "You got to find ways to score around them."

One player who figures to play a large role in that attack is Allison Raguse, who was recently named the Big Sky Volleyball Player of the Week for last week's matches. It is the first time a UNC player has received the award since the move into the Big Sky Conference.

Raguse finished the Sacramento State game with 20 kills and two service aces while leading the team with an attack percentage of .390 and 26 points. Raguse was surprised but thrilled to win the award.

"It's pretty exciting," Raguse said.

According to coach Benson, the award is more of an affirmation of Raguse's skills than anything else.

"I think more than anything it's a confidence boost for her of just that she knows she can score, she can block, she can go back to the service line and score aces and she did everything for us on Thursday night," Benson said.

The entire team has hit its stride, as they've won four of the last six games to climb to fifth place in the Big Sky. Ashley Lichtenberg attributes that to the team just finally finding a groove.

"I think everyone is meshing more as a team," Lichtenberg said. "Our setters are connecting more with our hitter and we're just all clicking."

UNC looks to continue their winning ways and another big upset against Portland State at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Butler-Hancock Sports Pavilion.

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