COLORADO SPRINGS (October 15, 2021) - The Nebraska Wesleyan volleyball team dropped a pair of matches on day one of the Colorado College Invitational in Colorado Springs. NWU fell to DeSales University in a heartbreaking match, 3-2, then was defeated by No. 7 Colorado College, 3-0. 

The Prairie Wolves and Bulldogs set the stage for an exciting match with a back-and-forth opening set. Nebraska Wesleyan was backed down to set point but fiercely rallied back with four straight points to tie the match at 24. The teams traded scores in extra points before DeSales finally won the first set, 30-28.

NWU bounced back with a 25-16 win in the second set and a 25-15 victory in the fourth set to force the decisive fifth set. In the fifth set, Nebraska Wesleyan took a 10-9 advantage but DU ended the match with six straight points.

For match two of the day, NWU faced seventh-ranked Colorado College, the second nationally-ranked opponent NWU has faced in its last five matches. The Tigers won the first set 25-18 and the second set 25-13. The Prairie Wolves battled in the third set but fell 25-20. 

Addie Thomas led Nebraska Wesleyan with 35 kills over the two matches. Mackenzie Scurto added 21 kills over the eight sets. Thomas, Kennady Klein, Taylor Kilgore, and Nyah Chambers each finished with three aces. Defensively, Klein registered 36 digs and Shae Gallery was credited with six blocks. 

UP NEXT
Nebraska Wesleyan wraps up the Colorado College Invitational with two more matches on Saturday, October 16. NWU plays No. 20 California-Santa Cruz at 11 a.m. CST and Cornell College at 1 p.m. CST in Colorado Springs.