Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Winthrop
Rams win Hilton Classic with victory over Winthrop
9/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 8, 2007
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FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Colorado State defeated the Winthrop Eagles to win the Hilton Classic outright Saturday evening. The Rams hit .536 in the final game. Mekana Barnes was named tournament MVP. Ashley Fornstrom and Tonya Mokelki joined Barnes on the Hilton Classic All-Tournament team. The Rams (5-3) are on a five-match win streak after the 3-1(30-23, 28-30, 30-19, 30-18) victory. CSU dominated the net with 17 blocks and held the Eagles to .157 hitting for the night.
In Game 1 the Rams came out firing with 18 kills on .257 team hitting. Winthrop took a lead early on at 9-8 before a 4-0 run gave CSU a three-point lead. Things continued to be tight until five kills and a block gave the Rams a 28-21 lead. CSU finished the game with a rare kill with a perfectly placed pass over the net by Katelin Batten.
Winthrop came out in Game 2 firing, testing the Rams' defense and staying close in the game. The teams battled to a tie game until the Eagles put together a three-point run to take the lead 22-19. The Rams got to within one point at 28-29 but a kill by Sara Felts gave the game to WU.
After the intermission the Rams came out to prove a point going up 7-3 with four Mokelki kills and a pair of kills by Tessa Nelson. CSU never looked back using a .395 hitting percentage, seven blocks, three aces and 20 kills to take back control of the match. The Rams went on a 9-1 run to extend the lead and didn't look back even after a late game challenge by the Eagles.
Game 4 was an opportunity for the younger Ram players to have a chance at some action. Freshman Audrey Hemmings entered the game on defense while Jacqueline Davisson was able to play in the front row for the first time this season. Davisson notched two front row kills to go with her career high eight digs. Jonelle Wallace saw action for the second time this season finishing with one kill.
Barnes had another amazing hitting performance with an attack percentage of .600 and 15 kills. Nelson also finished with 15 kills and hit .500 on the night. Jaime Strauss had 14 kills and 16 digs for her first double-double of the season. Mokelki rounded out the Rams in double-figure kills with 13.
CSU dominated the net with 17 team blocks led by Nelson and Barnes with eight blocks each. Mokelki finished with seven blocks. Fornstrom set 65 of the Rams 72 assists for the night and served up a pair of aces. Batten had 12 digs, three assists and a service ace.
The Rams open the Mountain West Conference season Wednesday night at 7 p.m. as they host TCU in Moby Arena. CSU will then host New Mexico Sept. 15 at 7 p.m.
Hilton Classic All-Tournament Team Shannon Stizmann, OH Winthrop Melissa Zenz, Libero Miami University Callie Webster, Libero Colorado Mallori Gibson, OH Colorado Ashley Fornstrom, Setter Colorado State Tonya Mokelki, OH Colorado State MVP: Mekana Barnes, Colorado State
