Super 16 (Dec. 7) - Northern Colorado vs. Georgia Southern

NORTHERN COLORADO 3, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 2 (25-18, 18-25, 26-24, 14-25, 15-10)

STATESBORO, Ga. - Northern Colorado advanced to the Great 8 of the 2024 NIVC after defeating Georgia Southern on its home court in the Super 16 in five sets.

The Bears jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead in the first set and never looked back. Georgia Southern managed to trim the lead to 13-12 midway through the first set and again at 16-15, but Northern Colorado responded by taking seven of the next nine points to comfortably win the first set. 

In the second set, it was Georgia Southern's turn to respond. The Eagles trailed early on but utilized a 7-2 run to create some breathing room in route to a 25-18 set victory. The third set was the set of the match with neither team able to create separation by more than three points. Georgia Southern hit .382 while Northern Colorado hit .385 in the back-and-forth set. Trailing 21-18 late in the set, the Bears went on an 8-3 run to close out the set and take a 2-1 advantage over the Eagles.

Georgia Southern once again responded in the fourth set with a dominant 25-14 set victory to force a winner-takes-all fifth set. That momentum carried over into the fifth set with the Eagles taking an early 4-1 lead in the set and seemingly taking control of the match, but the Bears would not be denied. UNC quickly scored the next three points to tie the game, and then utilized a 4-0 run with the set tied at 8-8 to take a 12-8 lead and control of the match.

Four Bears reached double figures in kills, led by Gabi Placide, who had 19 kills and eight digs. Maddie Davies (13), Brynn Reines (12), and Isabel Bennett (11) also reached double digits in kills. Setting the table for UNC was Syd Cole, who was seemingly everywhere with seven kills and a team-high 21 digs to go along with her 50 assists. As a team, UNC hit .273 and racked up 70 kills compared to Georgia Southern's 60.

Paige Powers and Jillian Gray led the way for the Eagles with 17 and 15 kills, respectively. As a team, Georgia Southern hit .281 in the match and had 11 service aces, including five from Kirsten Barrett.

Northern Colorado will now take on Arkansas State in the Great 8 of the 2024 NIVC.