The No. 5 Colorado College volleyball team split its two Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference crossover matches on Saturday, defeating Austin College in its first match before falling in five sets to the University of St. Thomas in the weekend finale.

Isabella Vasquez pounded down a career-high 20 kills to lead the Tigers to a 29-27, 25-27, 25-16, 25-19 over Austin in a battle of two of the top four teams in the conference standings.

CC turned back a stiff challenge from the 'Roos, at least during the first two sets.

The Tigers trailed by four points early in the first set and were down three at the midway point. After Colorado College leveled the score at 19-19, the teams were even sis more times before it closed out the set on a kill by Vasquez and a service ace from Peyton Hummel.

Austin played from in front for most of the second set, building a 21-18 lead. Trailing 24-22, the Tigers pulled eve and fought off a pair of set points, only to see the 'Roos put away the final two kills to even the match at one set apiece.

Once the Tigers were back on Mountain Time, they took control during the final two sets.

CC bolted to a 9-5 lead in the third set and never trailed. It was more of the same in the fourth when the Tigers grabbed an early 8-2 cushion.

The Tigers extended their lead to 16-6 and Austin never got closer than four points before Colorado College closed out its 21st consecutive victory over the 'Roos.

Georgia Mullins finished with 16 kills, while Isabella Lipacis recorded a double-double a with 13 kills and 10 digs.

Hummel led the defensive effort with a season-high 20 digs, her third career match with 20 or more. 

Riley Abernathy recorded a team-high 11 kills for Austin, while Mari Prazak produced a team-best 19 digs.

Mullins and Lipacis recorded 18 kills apiece, but Colorado College dropped a 10-25, 17, 25, 25-21, 25-22, 15-13 result against St. Thomas.
 
Lipacis completed her second double-double of the day with 15 digs, while Vasquez also recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 17 digs.
 
The Tigers cruised during the first two sets and appeared to be on the verge of posting its 12 sweep of the season when they opened a 17-13 lead in the third, but the Celts got back in the match on the strength of a 12-4 run.
 
CC led 16-14 in the fourth set, only to see UST rally with an 11-6 surge to level the match.
 
The Tigers fell behind 12-8 in the fifth set, but utilized a 5-1 run to tie the score at 13-13. However, the Celts took the lead on a kill by Trinity Atkins and won the match with their 14th blocked shot.
 
Alyssa Ajlouny led St. Thomas with 11 kills, while Paige Havel had a hand in 12 blocks.
 
Colorado College finished the weekend with an 18-3 overall record and a 7-2 mark in the SCAC.
 
The Tigers return home next week to play host to the 2021 Colorado College Invitational. CC faces Nebraska Wesleyan University and No. 20 UC Santa Cruz on Friday, and then DeSales University and Cornell College on Saturday.
 
The Tigers return home next week to play host to the 2021 Colorado College Invitational. CC faces Nebraska Wesleyan University and No. 20 UC Santa Cruz on Friday, and then DeSales University and Cornell College on Saturday.