Colorado College embraced the challenge, met it head-on and produced a big-time result on Saturday.

Needing no worse than a four-set victory to claim a title at their own CC Classic at recently renovated Reid Arena, the young Tigers responded with a come-from-behind 12-25, 25-21, 25-18, 25-21 triumph over Pacific Lutheran University.

A pair of rookies led the charge. Freshman outside hitter Emily Phillips hammered down 15 kills, while setter and tournament MVP Devon Lucero orchestrated the win with 38 assists. The duo added 10 digs apiece as CC prevailed convincingly against the nation's 20th-ranked team in Division III.

“We told them after Game 3 that they needed to take the fourth to win the championship,” said head coach Rick Swan, whose squad emerged from a three-way tiebreaker with PLU and the University of Texas-Dallas, all with 3-1 records for the weekend.

“We talked about playing good, consistent volleyball – not 'great' volleyball. Young kids want to make great plays, but it's the 'good' plays that win championships. We told them that if they made the good plays, they could beat anybody, and they believed that.”

Senior Laura Goldsmith, one of two seniors on a roster featuring 10 freshmen and four sophomores, played a key role with eight kills, 13 digs and a pair of service aces. She, Lucero and Phillips all were voted to the all-tournament team. Sophomore Randi Braak, who probably deserved to be, chipped in with 11 kills and a .417 hitting percentage to go along with a pair of solo blocks.  

They put themselves in a favorable position earlier in the day, registering a straight-sets victory (25-12, 24-19, 25-13) over Texas Lutheran University to set up the late showdown with the 6-1 Lutes.

Freshman outside hitter Lauren Hahn had a hand in a team-high seven blocked shots and nine kills, including five in the third set, against Texas Lutheran. Classmate Courtney Birkett added eight kills, while Lucero collected 26 assists.  

Pacing the defensive effort in the digs column for No. 15-ranked CC in the earlier victory were Goldsmith with 13, sophomore Julia Lawton with 10 and rookie Karina Guerrero with nine.