Georgia Mullins put down seven of her 12 kills in the final two sets to help the Colorado College volleyball team rally for a 25-13, 20-25, 22-25, 25-21, 15-10 victory at Schreiner University in the season opener for both teams on Friday night.
 
Isabella Lipacis led the Tigers with 18 kills and 21 digs, and became the first first-year Tiger to post a double-double in her first collegiate match since Kristen Liberty recorded 11 kills and 12 digs in a three-set victory over Howard Payne University on Sept. 2, 2011.
 
"I'm very proud of Izzy tonight," head coach Rick Swan said. "She showed tremendous poise playing in her first collegiate match."
 
Playing in her first match since Oct. 1, 2019, junior outside hitter Isabella Vasquez put away 10 kills and added seven digs.
 
CC hit a blistering .389 while taking the first set 25-13, but the Mountaineers took advantage of Tiger misfires to win sets two and three, their first-ever set victories in 15 matches against the Tigers.
 
Lipacis, Mullins and Vasquez accounted for all 12 Colorado College kills to help the Tigers claim the fourth set to level the match, then senior middle hitter Emma Hewlin and Lipacis put away three kills apiece as Colorado College put the match away by dominating the fifth set.
 
"It was great to be back on the court and playing against someone else and not ourselves," Swan said. "In set two, we made a lot of unforced errors and dug too big of a hole to get out. We kept working hard, fought through some inconstancies, and found our rhythm in sets four and five to pull out the win."
   
   
Colorado College Standouts  
Senior libero Rachel Krutz recorded a career-high 18 digs.
Senior setter Isabelle Aragon-Menzel dished out 34 assists and added 18 digs.
 
Schreiner University Standouts 
Kayla Lofland led the Mountaineers with 12 kills.
Elora Reyes posted a match-high 23 digs.
 
Notes 
Colorado College has won eight consecutive SCAC openers.
The last time CC played five sets or lost an SCAC opener was against Trinity on Sept. 21, 2012.
 
Next for the Tigers 
Colorado College and Schreiner wrap up their two-match series on Saturday at 11 a.m. MT.