Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
San Diego State
Volleyball Will Play In Finals Of MWC Tournament
11/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 24, 2006
The Colorado State volleyball team advances to the finals of the Mountain West Conference tournament after a three-game sweep over San Diego State, 30-21, 30-25, 30-16. The Rams improve to 19-9 on the year, while the Aztecs end their season at 11-18.
Colorado State was once again led by sophomore outside hitter Jaime Strauss with 16 kills. She also added four blocks and hit .375, while senior outside hitter Katherine Whitney added 11 kills and a team-best 16 digs. Junior Amanda Fahnestock recorded a match-high four aces and also led the match with six blocks. Freshman libero Katelin Batten tallied 15 digs and also recorded a career-high three aces.
"Jaime once again was a huge factor for us," said Head Coach Tom Hilbert. "We hit the ball extremely well today and did all the things we needed to win. Amanda served tough and blocked the ball well for us, while Katherine made smart choices."
Senior outside hitter Melanie Greene led the Aztecs with 10 kills and had 13 digs, while junior libero Aime Cordeiro led the match with 19 digs. Freshman outside hitter Stephanie Darnall had two of the team's three aces, while Kelley Wahlin had three blocks.
Sophomore setter Ashley Fornstrom went down on the first point of game one and trailing 2-1, Lindsey Hillegass took over the setting duties for the Rams and the team scored the next three points, taking the 4-2 lead. The Aztecs scored four of the next five points to take the 6-5 lead, but the Rams got back-to-back kills from Nelson and Whitney to regain the lead, 7-6 and scored two more to lead 9-6. After a Dent kill for SDSU, the Rams scored a pair with another Whitney kill and a block by Strauss and Barnes to lead 11-7. After a CSU error, the Rams rattled off four straight with an ace by Batten and a block by Fahnestock and Barnes to lead 15-8. Out of the television timeout, SDSU scored four straight with two aces included to pull within three, 15-12, but Strauss recorded a kill and after an Aztec error, combined with Fahnestock for a block to increase the lead to six, 18-12. SDSU scored five of the next six points to make it a two-point game once again, 19-17, and Fornstrom was ready to play again after being taped and the Rams scored three of four with two kills by Mokelki to lead 22-18. Colorado State closed game one with eight of the last 11 points, including two kills by Fornstrom and Strauss for the 30-21 win. Whitney had six kills to lead the Rams, while Strauss added five and the team hit .528.
The Rams scored the first four points of game two, then SDSU scored the next two, and Strauss had her seventh kill for the 5-2 lead. The teams traded points to 10-8 when Strauss had another kill and then combined with Fahnestock for a block to lead 12-8 and the Aztecs called a timeout. They scored two out of the break, then Fahnestock notched two straight kills and an Aztec error gave the Rams a five-point advantage, 15-10. The Aztecs scored five of the next six to close within one, 16-15. The Rams answered with three of four with kills by Barnes and Strauss, but then SDSU went on a five-point run with three blocks included to take its first lead of the game at 21-19. After the CSU timeout, The Rams scored three straight, with an ace by Batten to regain the lead, 22-21 A Dent kill for the Aztecs created the third tie, 22-22 and it was again tied at 23-23 when Mokelki and Fahnestock combined for a block and Mokelki notched a kill to lead by two, 25-23 and SDSU called its final timeout. The teams traded points to 26-24 when the Rams scored three, including an ace by Fahnestock to take the 29-24 lead and won 30-25 off a kill by Mokelki. Strauss led the team with six kills, while Fahnestock was in on three blocks.
For the second straight game, the Rams scored the first four points, including another ace by Batten. Dent scored two of the next three points for San Diego State, but the Rams tallied five of the next six points, forcing SDSU into a timeout trailing 10-3. Out of the break, Fahnestock served two straight aces and the Rams scored three more to lead 15-3 and there was a television timeout. Darnall got a kill for SDSU out of the break, then the teams traded points to 16-5 when the Rams scored three straight to lead by 14, 19-5. Each team scored two straight, then SDSU scored three of four to cut the Rams lead to 12, but the Rams responded with a four-point run and went on to win 30-16.
Colorado State ill play in the finals tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. (Pacific) against the winner of the UNLV-Utah match.
