Winning a championship takes talent, yes, but it also takes heart and grit. University of Northern Colorado volleyball showed all three of those aspects in their five-set victory Saturday night in the Big Sky Championship match against Weber State.

The talent came from Big Sky Tournament MVP Kailey Jo Ince and All-Big Sky Tournament selection Taylor Muff who combined for 41 kills on the night. Muff added in 21 digs to rank second on the team only behind senior Taylor Els and her 27.

The heart and grit came in earning comeback victories in sets two and three and to grind out the win in the fifth set.

After dropping a back and forth first set 26-24, Northern Colorado fell into an 8-2 hole early in the second set. That didn't detour the Bears as they responded with a 10-1 run to take the lead at 12-9. Ince and Muff combined for five kills during that run.

Just like in the semifinals Friday night, Northern Colorado closed sets out strong. In the second the Bears won it on a 3-1 run to even the match at the break.

Freshman Makenzie Harris was a game-changer for Northern Colorado in the third set. She came into the match and picked up six kills during the key set. She had four of the team's final five points in the set including back to back kills to put UNC up 2-1.

READ MORE ABOUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

UNC volleyball is heading to Honolulu to face No. 12 Hawaii in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m. HT/10 p.m. MT. This is UNC's fifth trip to the Division I NCAA Tournament and the second time they will travel to Hawaii. The Bears also went to Hawaii in 2011.