Colorado State University Athletics
Rams make 14th consecutive appearance in NCAA tournament
11/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 30, 2008
By John Manuszak
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Colorado State volleyball team will be making its 14th consecutive trip to the NCAA volleyball tournament and will travel to Gainesville, Fla., to face Florida International Friday in the first round. The 14 straight postseason appearances marks the most successful run by any program in CSU's athletics history.
"I think we got a pretty good deal," said Head Coach Tom Hilbert. "I think that's a good grouping for us. Florida International is a good team and if we get by them, we will most likely play Florida. Our team is familiar with them and ready for this. I'm actually really excited. We are going to go out to Gainesville and will do the best we can."
Rams and Golden Panthers (28-6) will face off in the first round with the winner advancing to take on the winner of Friday's No. 15 seed Florida (25-3) vs. Florida A&M (14-12) match, on Saturday night in Gainesville. The Rams finished the regular season with a 22-6 mark and finished second in the Mountain West conference. They were ranked in the Bison/AVCA Coaches poll all season long, including a No. 12 ranking during the fifth week of the season.
Colorado State has the opportunity to play its way back to Moby Arena if it can post wins in the first and second round of the tournament as the Rams, for the first time in school history, will host one of four NCAA regionals on Dec. 12-13. Three matches will make up the Moby Arena regional, two on Dec. 12 and the regional championship on Dec. 13, the winner of which will advance to the Division I Final Four, hosted by the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb. CSU has won 28 consecutive matches at Moby Arena.
Tickets for the NCAA regionals are on sale now, available at www.CSURams.com, or by calling 1-800/491-RAMS or visiting the Moby Arena ticket office.