GREELEY, Colo. - Beginning the final week of non-conference competition, the Mavericks played their closest match all season as they opened the Northern Colorado Classic with a 3-2 loss to the hosting UNC Bears Thursday night.

Omaha is now 0-8 on the year, while Northern Colorado improves to 4-5.

Set by Set: (21-25, 20-25, 25-17, 25-19, 11-15)

• Backed by three kills each from Rachel Fairbanks and Brynlee Arnold, Omaha kept it close and trailed by just two at 14-16. After the Bears started pulling away, Fairbanks would have two more kills to keep Omaha's hopes alive, only for a couple of costly service errors to win the set for UNC.
• Initially falling behind 1-5 to start set two, the Mavericks, led by two blocks and a kill from McKenna Ruch, outscored the Bears 8-4 to tie it at nine all. Later, with Omaha again trailing 14-16, the Mavericks took a 17-16 lead thanks to another block from Ruch, followed by the first ace of the day for either team from Fairbanks and Arnold's first kill of the set. After a Northern Colorado timeout, though, the Bears scored six in a row to retake the lead and hold it.
• Fairbanks and Ruch continued to play well as each notched two kills and an ace to make it 10-8. The Mavericks did not let up on offense as Ruch recorded four more kills and another block, while Amanda Hardt got two kills and a block of her own. UNC's errors continued to mount as well, culminating in a wide hit to give Omaha its first set of the day.
• Bookended by kills from Hardt, the Mavericks opened the fourth with a 7-0 lead as Shayla McCormick came in to serve and absolutely dominated, getting back-to-back aces, inducing two attack errors, and scoring yet another ace. With the Bears still struggling to get the ball over the net, Omaha cruised to an 18-10 lead. Though Northern Colorado fought back to get within two points, four straight kills from Ruch and Fairbanks' third ace forced a fifth set.
• Ruch remained on fire to begin the final set, coming out with three service aces and her 15th kill to give Omaha a 9-6 lead. However, seven unanswered from Northern Colorado put them up 13-9 and eventually led to a narrow 15-11 victory.

Inside the Box Score

• In addition to leading the team with 15 kills, Ruch posted her highest attack percentage of the season at .464. This was also her second consecutive match with six total blocks and four service aces.
• Hardt had her second game in a row with double-digit kills, setting a new career-best with 13 tonight.
• Omaha's 12 service aces tonight are the team's most in a single match since recording 17 at South Dakota back on February 5, 2021.

Up Next 
The Mavericks continue the Colorado Classic tomorrow at 4 p.m. when they face Wichita State.