Balanced Grizzlies sweep Eagles, take big step towards RMAC spot

by Chris Day

Sophomore Andrea Tuck eyes the ball during ASC's 3-game sweep. Tuck finished the night with a team-high 11 kills. Photo by Daniel Binkard.

Box Score

CHADRON, Neb.— Sophomores Andrea Tuck (Erie, Colo.) and Darcy Jennings (Lakin, Kan.) led a balanced hitting attack while junior libero Jessie Pickens (Cortez, Colo.) had a match-high 19 digs as the Adams State College Grizzly volleyball team made a big step towards a possible Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament berth with a key 30-24, 30-21, 32-30 road win at Chadron State College, Thursday night in the Eagles’ Armstrong Gymnasium.

Tuck had 11 kills while hitting .250 in the victory that was ASC’s first road win in five tries, a span of over a month. Jennings turned in 10 kills and a .286 attack percentage on 21 swings.

Senior Brittany Muchmore (Peoria, Ariz.) and freshman Kimberly Ingram (Roswell, N.M.) added nine kills a piece while sophomore middle blocker Gina Meyer-Smith (Blanding, Utah) turned in six kills on 10 attempts, good for an impressive .600 attack percentage.

The Grizzlies, who hit .237 as team, improved to 9-11 overall and to 5-7 in RMAC play, a full match ahead of arch-rival Western State, which was swept by the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers, ranked 22nd in the nation earlier Thursday. The Grizzlies are also a half-match ahead of Colorado State-Pueblo, which is at Chadron State on Friday.

The Grizzlies, who defeated both CSU-Pueblo and Western State earlier this season, visit the Lopers’ Health & Sports Center on Friday at 7 p.m. (CDT).

The Eagles were held to a .115 attack percentage and fell to 6-15 overall and 3-8 in RMAC play despite solid efforts from Lindsy Heisler, Elizabeth Most and Lauren Emory. Heisler had 12 kills while Most recorded 10 while hitting .240. Emory turned in 11 but hit just .094 on the night.

Grizzly freshman setter Mary McNeil (Phoenix, Ariz.) added 40 assists in the victory, ASC’s second straight sweep.