The Wildcats (13-12, 10-4 Big Sky), who enter the final two games in second place, were in the battle on the scoreboard, leading the second set 11-7 and ultimately 18-12 on a Rose Moore ace. But Northern Colorado (21-6, 12-2) won the next 55 points by a 38-17 margin to claim the sweep.

WSU hit just .026 in the second set and .132 for the match. Northern Colorado’s .529 in the final set gave the visitors a .311 mark for the match.

“We didn’t put any pressure on them whatsoever to make life hard,” 11th-year WSU head coach Jeremiah Larsen said. “When you don’t do that, they’re just going to run it down your throat and that’s kind of what they did.

“We didn’t serve tough. For sure, we didn’t pass well enough and our offense was super stagnant … they were able to transition at a way better rate than we could.”

The Bears halted what was a six-match winning streak for Weber State.

“Seasons are funny, right? There’s a lot of ebbs and flows and when you’re dealing with trying to fill roles that were filled for so long by two really nice volleyball players, there’s some growing pains,” Larsen said. “We have to give these kids opportunities to take their time and develop, and understand that, yeah, this is a game, and then tomorrow we get back to practice and hopefully resemble the team that we know we are.”

Rose Moore led WSU with seven kills and Jayda Tupea had five. Kate Payne totaled 19 assists, 11 digs and two blocks. Northern Colorado got 11 kills apiece from Isabel Bennett and Gabi Placide.

The sentiment after the match was that Weber State knows it has more to give than what it showed Saturday.

“I think it just came down to us not competing the way we’ve been competing the last couple weeks,” the senior setter Payne said. “We have to all be on the same page and I think when we’re all being aggressive, whether it’s hitting or serving or things like that, then it kind of helps us get into that groove and be able to be in that competitive mindset as one unit.”

WSU closes the regular season with road matches at Portland State and Sacramento State. With Northern Colorado all but wrapping up the regular-season title, Weber State can play to lock in the No. 2 seed for the Big Sky tournament scheduled Nov. 27-29 at Sacramento State.

WSU SENDS OFF THREE SENIORS

Payne, a sixth-year senior from Lehi, is one of three seniors to conclude their home careers Saturday and is second all-time in assists.

“Kate’s pretty special. Four years ago, she couldn’t set a ball, she was going through the yips. So seeing how she’s overcome a lot of challenges, mental blocks, to be one of the better setters in our league is really cool,” Larsen said. “Being No. 2 all-time in assists, it’s a special moment because going through tears and self-doubt, that sucks, and to be able to go through that with her and be a small part of her overcoming that is pretty special to me.”

Middle blocker Liana Woodley, of Winchester, California, has 164 total blocks in the last two seasons.

“All she does is keep on working harder and getting better,” Larsen said. “She’s earned everything she’s gotten … she works hard in the weight room and in the classroom. To see her growth as an individual is pretty special.”

Baylee Bodily, from Draper, has 723 career kills.

“She’s a middle blocker who transitioned to an opposite and now is playing a backup role and never once did she complain or whine. She just wants to do what’s in the best interest of the volleyball team,” Larsen said. “That’s a selfless kid right there.

“Those three kids are pretty special kids and left a special legacy for our program.”