Colorado State University Athletics
Rams In Mid-Season Form
9/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | General
With the fall semester only two weeks in, three Colorado State athletic programs, including football, cross country and the nationally-ranked volleyball team, have already shown why the Rams are a force to be reckoned with in 2004
The Rams? volleyball team began the season ranked 11th in the nation, and played host to the National Association of Collegiate Women?s Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) Volleyball Classic. The NACWAA tournament, one of the most prestigious in the nation, featured such competition as No. 1 and defending National Champions USC, as well as No. 5 Minnesota and No. 12 Georgia Tech. The Rams started the season with a bang, taking the first game of their semi-final match against Minnesota 30-23, but lost the final three games 24-30, 22-30 and 27-30.
In the consolation game of the tournament, the Rams? bounced back from the season opening loss, to defeat Georgia Tech in four games by scores of 30-26, 28-30, 30-26, 30-28 and take third place in the tournament. Junior middle blocker Dre Downs earned all-tournament honors for Colorado State.
The Rams then swept both Idaho State at home and the University of Colorado-Boulder in Boulder and have now claimed the No. 10 ranking in the nation.
The team will continue its road swing this week, taking on Washington State and Gonzaga on September 8 and 9, respectively
The Football team opened up the 2004 season in a familiar fashion, against the University of Colorado-Boulder in the Rocky Mountain Showdown. Although the opponent was familiar, a venue change, from Invesco Field at Mile High to Folsom Field, offered a new challenge for the team.
The Rams fell behind early 17-0, but rallied behind Junior quarterback and first year starter Justin Holland, who finished the game 29-for-42 passing for 403 yards and two touchdown passes in the first regular season start of his career.
Down 27-24, Holland drove the Rams to the one-yard line, but time ran out as the Rams attempted to score.
Junior David Anderson led all receivers in the game with nine receptions for 156 yards, as the Rams out gained the Buffs 447-372. Anderson has now caught a pass in 14 straight games, dating back to last season.
The Rams will take on No. 1 and defending Co-National Champions USC in Los Angeles on Saturday, Sept. 11 with kickoff set for 6 p.m. MT. CSU opens up their home schedule the following week playing host to Minnesota at 8 p.m. MT on Sept. 18.
The Men?s and Women?s cross-country teams were also in action last week, competing in the Wyoming Invitation in Laramie, Wyo. on Friday Sept. 3. The Men?s team took first place with a team score of 27, defeating UCCS, Air Force and Wyoming, while the women?s team started the season with a strong second-place performance.
On the men?s side, five rams placed in the top-10, including Senior Josh Glaab who paced the men, opening the season with a time of 21:57.
Junior Danielle Korb led the way for the women, winning the 2.5 mile race with a time of 14:46, 20 seconds faster than Wyoming?s Jennifer Thompson.
The team will host the CSU Open on Sept. 11, in Fort Collins.
