The #2 ranked tampa team handed the #4 bears their first loss of the season in a thrilling five-set match at the colorado premier volleyball tournament on saturday. The bears lost 29-31, 30-26, 30-21, 28-30, 12-15 in a rematch of the team that defeated concordia in the elite eight a year ago. The bears rebounded in the second match of the day defeating #7 washburn 30-23, 30-16, 30-21.

in the first match of the day, the bears led the spartans 29-26 in the first game, before giving up five straight points and dropping the game 31-29. kelsey kyro led csp against tampa with 23 kills and seven blocks, while jessica lucia posted her second straight double-double with 17 kills and 17 digs. maria steinhagen added 15 kills and monica mcnamara had ten. maggie mcnamara had a double-double with 66 assists and ten digs. megan graham led the team with 27 digs, while ashley olson had 20.

against washburn, kyro again led the bear attack with 16 kills and eight blocks, while lucia had ten kills and a team-high 16 digs. Maggie mcnamara had 45 assists. As a team, the bears hit .224 with 48 kills, while limiting washburn to a .014 hitting percentage with 32 kills. The bears had a season-high 17 team blocks.

kelsey kyro was named the tournament?s most valuable player, while jessica lucia and maggie mcnamara were both named the the all-tournament team.

the bears will have their first action at home on tuesday as st. Cloud state visits the gangelhoff center for a 7:00 start.

2006 colorado premier challenge all-tournament team
jessica lucia, concordia st. Paul
vicky braegelmann, minnesota duluth
stephanie rivera, tampa
tessa jones, washburn
jordan mcafee, florida southern
maggie mcnamara, concordia st. Paul
danielle durham, florida southern
katelen dixon, tampa
kari wolford, minnesota duluth
beverly stasis, florida southern
ashley martin, florida southern
julie green, metro state
most valuable player: kelsey kyro, concordia st. Paul