Lady Patriots Make First Tournament Appearance Since 2013, Face Colorado Mesa

By Press release submission

Nov 17, 2022

DBU (25-6, 14-2 LSC) VS #18 COLORADO MESA (21-6, 15-3 RMAC)
November 16 | 8:30 pm CT | Denver, CO | Auraria Event Center

MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE
Watch: Roadrunners TV
Live Stats: Live Stats
Twitter: @DBU_Volleyball
Facebook: DBU Athletics
South Central Regional Central: Tournament Central
NCAA Championship Central: Division II Volleyball Championship

LAST TIME OUT
DBU traveled to Canyon, Texas, last weekend, where it competed as the second seed in the Lone Star Conference Volleyball Championship.

The Lady Patriots opened their tournament run with a grueling five-set win over UAFS. After winning the first two sets, DBU gave up sets three and four and fell behind, 8-2, to start the fifth before engineering a comeback against the Lady Lions.

Texas A&M International was the foe faced in the semifinals. The Dustdevils stole the first frame, but the momentum shifted into the Lady Patriots' favor progressively for the remainder of the match as DBU advanced to the final in a four-set affair.

The tournament's top two seeds dueled in the championship match. Fending off a few small threats from the Lady Patriots, then-No. 11 West Texas A&M controlled the match almost the whole way, sweeping DBU to claim back-to-back LSC Tournament titles.

Lauryn Burt, AJ Koele, and Shaylee Shore earned All-Tournament honors for their individual performances during the weekend.

PATRIOT STORYLINES
- With West Texas A&M receiving the LSC automatic bid into the NCAA Division II Women's Volleyball Championship, the Lady Patriots received an at-large bid to be the No. 4 seed in the South Central Regional.
- The berth is DBU's third in program history and its first at-large bid ever. The Lady Patriots will make their first appearance in the tournament since 2013.
- The Lady Patriots pair an efficient offense with an above-average defense, hitting .269 (10th in the nation, 1st in LSC) while allowing their opponents a .166 mark.
- Shaylee Shore and AJ Koele lead DBU at the net. The two combine for a .332 attack percentage and 3.14 kills per set.
- Koele is having arguably the best offensive season in program history. With 431 kills, the outside hitter needs only 1 more to move into sole possession of 2nd place for the single-season kills record and 40 to tie Lauren Secord's record of 471. Not only that, but at her current average, 4.10, she will break Kristin Secord's record for kills per set in a season (3.34).
- Lauryn Burt is amid one of the most impressive performances DBU has ever seen from one of its setters. Thus far, the UNLV transfer has dished out 1,007 assists, the 4th most a Lady Patriot has allocated in a season. Her 10.42 aces per set put her in 2nd place for the school record in that category (Kaycie Bird's 10.70 in 2014).
- Kenzie McNeill continues to spearhead the most dangerous serving team in the LSC. DBU accumulates over 2 aces per set (2.03) thanks in part to her record-shattering 52 aces this season.

SCOUTING COLORADO MESA
- Colorado Mesa makes its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament and third in the last five seasons after losing in the semifinals of the RMAC Tournament.
- The Mavericks had a remarkable 12-game winning streak from September 24 to November 1 and have won 13 of their last 15.
- Seven players from CMU received All-RMAC recognition, including three First-Team honorees: Sierra Hunt, Kerstin Layman, and Sabrina VanDeList. Layman (5.05 digs per set) was named the conference Defensive Player of the year, and VanDeList was designated as the Academic Player of the year and Summit Award recipient for her work in the classroom.
- In addition to her scholastic prowess, VanDeList has established herself as a passer and server, ranking 20th in the country in aces per set (0.57) and 5th in assists per set (11.34).
- The Mavericks boast one of the most productive offenses around. Middle blocker Savannah Spitzer is 4th nationally in hitting percentage with a .411 clip for a squad that hits .216 collectively and averages the 4th-most kills per set in the country (14.48).

ALL-TIME SERIES
DBU and Colorado Mesa last met in 2019, a four-set loss for the Lady Patriots. The Mavericks have claimed all five contests between the two schools since DBU became an NCAA member in 2004. CMU also won a pair of contests during the Lady Patriots' tenure in the NAIA.

UP NEXT
The winner of Thursday's match will joust with the winner of top-seeded No. 1 MSU Denver versus CSU Pueblo in the semifinals of the South Central Regional on Friday at 8:30 pm CT.