BOXSCORE: NC-Nova

BOXSCORE: NC-Rider

PHILADELPHIA -- The first victory of the season was a battle, but once it got going, Northern Colorado's volleyball team got the 2008 season off to a good start Friday, Aug. 29, at the LaSalle Tournament.

The Bears were staring a loss in the face in their first match of the season against Villanova, but Lyndsey Benson's squad fought back and got a 3-2 (25-21, 24-26, 21-25, 25-12, 15-10) victory after being down 1-2.

Northern Colorado then easily dispatched Rider 3-0 (25-17, 25-13, 25-12) in its second game of the tournament.

"We just took a step back in sets two and three in the first match, rather than maintaining our attack," Benson said. "But I was really proud of our sets four and five -- especially with it being our first match of the season against a really good Villanova team."

Senior setter Lauren Carter, who entered the season just 25 assists shy of breaking into Northern Colorado's top 10 in the category at 1,027, easily moved into the Bears record books in the wins. Her 37 assists against the Wildcats and 21 against the Broncos gives her 1,085 career assists and moves her into sole possession of the program's ninth all-time spot.

"Lauren did a really good job of passing it around," Benson said. "Our middles played extremely well, and Lauren was a big reason for that."

Junior Allison Raguse led the Bears with 14 kills against Villanova, and sophomore Ashley Lichtenberg led with 11 kills on 17 attacks against Rider.

"It was really good to get her (Lichtenberg) going this early," Benson said. "It was a great opener for her."

Northern Colorado will continue its Philadelphia play tomorrow Saturday, Aug. 30, with a match against Lafayette at 2 p.m. and another against the host Explorers at 7 p.m. Both times are mountain.