Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Wyoming
Volleyball Wins 10th Straight With Sweep Over Wyoming
10/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 26, 2006
The Colorado State volleyball team improved to 15-6 overall and 9-2 in Mountain West Conference play, winning its 10th straight match with a three-game sweep over the Wyoming Cowgirls this evening in Moby Arena, 30-28, 30-18, 30-25. With the loss, Wyoming falls to 8-12 overall and 2-7 in league play.
Sophomore outside hitter Jaime Strauss led a quartet of Rams in double figure kills with 12, while both middle blockers, freshman Tessa Nelson and sophomore Mekana Barnes added 11 and senior outside hitter Katherine Whitney chipped in 10. Freshman libero Katelin Batten notched a career- and match-high 20 digs, while sophomore setter Ashley Fornstrom, junior right-side hitter Tonya Mokelki and Whitney each added 10 and Barnes led the team with five blocks.
"If you look at the way they (Wyoming) plays - they start out strong in every match," said head coach Tom Hilbert. "I'm very proud of our players. The way they hung in there, we're a much improved defensive team and it showed. Katelin Batten was great tonight and I think we were able to wear them down."
Wyoming was led by freshman outside hitter Annie Meyers and junior right-side hitter Angie Hellbaum with 10 kills each, while sophomore libero Samantha Eley and sophomore setter Tasha Weishahn each tallied 18 digs and Meyers added 10. Junior middle blocker Lauren Scott tallied a match-high six digs.
The first game was back-and-forth, while the Rams completely dominated in game two, taking an 11-0 lead. The 11-point stretch is the longest of the season and the longest to start a game this year. Both previous highs were nine-point runs.
Batten's 20 digs on the evening is the second most by a Ram this year (22, Jaime Strauss vs Missouri State) and ties for the third-most in a three-game match in school history. The 20 digs also gives her 272 for the season, which is a new Colorado State record for a freshman, surpassing the 270 by Nalani Yamashita in 1992. Fornstrom also tied her career-high with six kills and she and Whitney both tallied double-doubles on the evening.
Colorado State will host Air Force next Thursday, Nov. 2. That match is also scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
