Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Air Force
Rams dominate Falcons at Moby
11/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 1, 2008
By John Manuszak
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado State volleyball fans are used to seeing their team win at Moby Arena, but Saturday’s match was something special.
After nearly three weeks without a home match, the Rams returned to Moby on Saturday afternoon and put together a dominating performance as they moved to 19-2 and 9-1 in the conference with a three-set sweep (25-8, 25-12, 25-7) over the Air Force Falcons (5-19, 0-10 MWC). The win marked CSU’s 30th consecutive win over the Falcons and the 26th straight win for the Rams overall at Moby.
The No. 14 Rams completely controlled Air Force in every aspect as they took commanding leads in each set as they cruised to the win. It also gave Head Coach Tom Hilbert and the Rams a chance to experiment with several different lineups and try some players at new positions.
“We used some different lineups today,” said Hilbert. “Some of the ones out there today we had practiced with and some we hadn’t. But when you have good leadership and good setting like we did today, you can be successful with whatever lineup is on the floor.”
One of the changes was the insertion of freshman setter Evan Sanders at outside hitter, where she tallied four kills while hitting .446 and also adding four assists, seven digs and three blocks.
“Evan is an extremely functional volleyball player,” said Hilbert. “She can do everything out on the floor and she knows the game so well.”
Other changes to the Rams lineup included playing Audrey Hemmings at the libero position and giving freshman Lisa Weintraub some action.
The other highlight for the Rams in the win was the serving exhibition put on by Jacque Davisson. She tallied seven service aces, which tied for the third-most in school history. She also added four kills and six digs in the win.
Sanders and Davisson were not alone, however, as several other Rams had solid performances. Mekana Barnes hit over .300 for the seventh straight match as she tallied nine kills on .500 hitting while Tessa Nelson tallied six kills on .667 hitting. As a team, the Rams combined to hit .400 while holding the Falcons to an astounding -.224.
For the first time this season, the Rams held their opponents to fewer than 10 points in a set as they limited the Falcons to just eight points in the first set and seven in the third. In each of the first two sets, the Rams held a 17-7 lead, while the highlight of the third set was a 19-1 run that saw the Rams go from 2-1 down to a 20-3 lead.
The Rams will next be in action on Thursday as they begin a two-match road trip at New Mexico. CSU will then travel to TCU for a Saturday matchup against TCU before returning home for a match with San Diego State on Nov. 13.
