Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Pepperdine
Volleyball Swept by #25 Pepperdine
9/3/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 3, 2005
The Colorado State volleyball team, ranked 22nd in the country, was swept in the nightcap by the 25th ranked Pepperdine Waves, loving 30-28, 30-18, 30-24. With the loss, the Rams fall to 1-2, while Pepperdine improves to 2-1.
Senior outside hitter Casey Bauer led the Rams with 12 kills and was the only Ram in double figures. Senior middle blocker Dre Downs continued to hit extremely well, hitting .429 (7-1-14) on the evening. Freshman Jaime Strauss and Bauer led the team with 10 digs each, while freshman middle blocker Mekana Barnes led the team with four blocks and junior setter Katherine Whitney had two aces.
Pepperdine was led by freshman Julie Rubenstein with 13 kills, while middle blockers Lecca Roberts and Sophia Milo each notched 10 kills. Senior Katy Daly led the team with 10 digs and she and Cassi Chamberlain each had one ace. Rubenstein also led the match with five blocks.
Despite seven missed serves by the Rams in the first game, it was extremely close throughout with 16 ties and four lead changes. The score was tied at each of the first four points when Pepperdine scored three straight to lead 6-4. The teams traded points until the Rams scored two straight with a kill by Rogers and a Waves error to knot the score at 8-8. The score was then tied at every point from nine to 13 when Pepperdine scored two straight for the 15-13 advantage but the Rams scored four of the next five points with a kill by Bauer and Downs and a block by Downs and Whitney to take the 17-16 lead. The score was again tied at every point from 17 through 20 when the Waves scored three straight, two off kills by Milo to take the 22-20 lead. After a CSU time-out, Pepperdine scored one more, but the Rams answered with two straight -- one a Rogers kill and then Barnes joined her for a block to make the score 23-22 Each team had a small run of two points each to make the score 25-24 and Pepperdine used its first time-out. Whitney and Barnes got a block out of the break, but Pepperdine scored four of the next five points with two kills by Rubenstein for the 29-26 advantage. On game point, Bauer got two huge kills for CSU to make the score 29-28 when the Waves used their final break and got a kill from Roberts to win 30-28.
Pepperdine scored the first two points of the second game, but the Rams rallied to score three of the next four, including an ace by Whitney to knot the score at 3-3. The game was tied at 4-4 and 5-5 before Pepperdine went on a four-point run, including an ace serve by Daly to take the 9-5 lead and Hilbert called for a time-out. Milo got a kill out of the rest, but CSU scored four of the next five points with two kills and an ace by Rogers to pull within two, 11-9. Pepperdine went on a run of its own, scoring five of the next six to take the big lead at 16-10. Trailing 19-12, the Rams scored three straight to pull within four at 19-15 and the Waves requested a time-out. Out of the one minute rest, Pepperdine scored four straight with two kills by Daly for the 23-15 lead and a CSU time-out. Barnes and Rogers got two of the next three points, making the score 24-17, but Pepperdine closed out strong, scoring six of the final seven points to win 30-18.
Pepperdine scored the first two points of the third stanza, but Bauer recorded the next five kills for Colorado State, including two from the back row to give the Rams the 5-4 lead. After a missed served knotted the score at 5-5, the Rams scored three of the next four with two coming off Barnes kills to lead 7-5. Trading sideouts, the Waves scored two straight to knot the score at 9-9. The Rams then scored four of the next five to take a 13-10 lead and after a kill by Rubenstein scored two more with a kill by Mokelki to take a 15-11 advantage and force Pepperdine into a time-out. The Waves scored four of the next five points with two kills by Milo to close within one at 16-15. Rogers got a CSU kill, but then the Waves scored five of the next six to take a 20-18 lead. Hilbert called for a break, but Pepperdine scored the next three to lead 23-18 and Hilbert used his last time-out. Pepperdine scored three of the next four points to lead 26-19. Bauer then got a kill and Whitney had an ace serve to close within five, 26-21. Pepperdine scored the next three to give them match point at 29-21, but the Rams scrapped out three more points with kills by Downs and Rogers and a block by Mokelki and Downs to make the score 29-24, but the Waves won 30-24.
Colorado State will return to Fort Collins tomorrow and then play at the University of Denver at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. The Rams have never lost to the Pioneers, posting a perfect 10-0 record.
ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM
Lecca Roberts, Pepperdine MVP
Dre Downs, Colorado State
Julie Rubenstein, Pepperdine
Jen Probert, CSUN
Stephanie Germann, Northern Iowa
Kristin Belzung, Northern Iowa
