BOXSCORE: NC-MSU

BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Northern Colorado's women's volleyball team returned to form Saturday night, Sept. 20, at Montana State. 

A night after showing signs of a team still trying to learn to win tough conference road games, the Bears bounced ahead early and took control of a road match and earned a victory 3-1 (25-20, 20-25, 25-17, 25-22) in Bozeman.

Northern Colorado (7-2, 1-1 Big Sky Conference) started the season with six wins in as many matches, but following two straight road losses, the Bears were on the verge of losing the benefit of such a strong start.

This match was all Northern Colorado, though, with senior Lauren Carter leading the way with a season-high 56 assists against the Bobcats (3-9, 0-2).

"We still gave up too many unforced errors tonight," Northern Colorado coach Lyndsey Benson said. "But we played better as a team in this match, and it showed in the final score."

Junior Kenzie Shreeve has been at the center of the Bears' attack all season, and that storyline continued in this one. She hit at a .475 clip, and her 22 kills led Northern Colorado. Her 13 digs were also second to Breanna VanDerMost's 18.

And newcomer Breanna Williams made her presence known with a career-high tying nine kills.

"Kenzie had another good match for us tonight," Benson said, "and Bre Williams really stepped up and had one of her better matches in her time here.

"We were able to get a win."