Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
TCU
Volleyball Sweeps TCU
11/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 15, 2005
A dominant performance by senior middle blocker Dre Downs led the Colorado State volleyball team to a three-game sweep over the TCU Horned Frogs in Moby Arena this evening, 30-28, 30-17, 30-21. With the win the Rams improve to 17-7 on the year and 10-4 in Mountain West play, while TCU falls to 15-16 overall and 3-12 in league action. The win also moves CSU into a tie for second place in the Mountain West standings with two matches remaining.
Downs led all players with 14 kills and hit .667 (14-2-18). She was the only Ram in double figures in kills in the match. Junior libero Katherine Whitney -- the Mountain West's Player of the Week -- led the match with 12 digs, while both freshman middle blocker Mekana Barnes and freshman setter Ashley Fornstrom led the team with five blocks each and Whitney and senior defensive specialist Amber Piel each had two aces.
TCU was led by outside hitter LeMeita Smith with 11 kills, while outside hitter Devon Kirk chipped in 10. Sophomore libero/outside hitter Talaya Whitfield led the Horned Frogs with 11 digs and she and freshman setter Nirelle Hampton each had two aces. Three different Frogs each tallied one block.
"I find TCU to be a pesky team," said CSU head coach Tom Hilbert. "They compete with you the whole way and their setter's pretty good. I was glad to get this win and get it in three. This was an interesting match -- TCU goes back deep and bombs their serves at you. I was happy to see solid performances from so many players."
CSU hit a season-best .381 on the evening, including .568 in the third stanza where the Rams were down 14-10 and came back to win 30-21.
Freshman defensive specialist/outside hitter Jaime Strauss notched her 100th career dig in game one and now has 105, while Barnes tallied her 100th career block and now has 104. Piel served the first five points of game two for CSU, including both of her aces.
Colorado State will close out its home season this weekend. The Rams host New Mexico on Friday and Air Force on Saturday. Both matches are scheduled at 7:00 p.m. and at the Air Force match, the four seniors will be honored for their time at CSU.
