Colorado State University Athletics
CSU volleyball climbs to No. 6 in national poll
10/13/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Colorado State volleyball team continued its climb Monday, moving up to No. 6 in this week’s AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll. The Rams began the season at No. 18, but following an 18-1 start – including 13 wins in a row – have risen to No. 6, its highest national rank since Oct. 29, 2001.
It marks CSU’s 21st-straight week ranked, and fifth in a row in the top 10. All-time, CSU has been ranked in 257 of the 469 polls – 14th in the NCAA – and holds 68 appearances in the top 10, which is tied with Arizona for 18th.
The Rams had spent the previous three weeks at No. 7, but following Penn State’s loss to No. 15 Illinois over the weekend, the defending national champs fell behind CSU. Opponents Wisconsin (No. 5), BYU (No. 9) and Arizona State (No. 17) each moved up one spot, while Marquette continues to receive votes.
CSU, which is riding the nation’s longest road winning streak, will play at New Mexico and Air Force this week. The Rams haven’t lost a true road match since Oct. 25, 2012, a span of 24-consecutive road wins. Overall, CSU’s 13-match win streak is tied for the fourth-longest in the NCAA, and its 18 victories lead the nation.
Rams move up in RPI
While the national recognition is nice, Head Coach Tom Hilbert believes that his team’s Ratings Percentage Index is more important. The RPI generally plays a large role in NCAA tournament seeding and determining the 16 first- and second-round host sites. CSU moved up one spot this week to No. 13.
The RPI is based off of three categories: a team’s winning percentage (25 percent), its opponents’ winning percentage (50 percent) and the winning percentage of its opponents’ opponents (25 percent).
Culbert named Mountain West Player of the Week
For the fourth time in the past five weeks, a Colorado State volleyball student-athlete has been named the Mountain West Women’s Volleyball Player of the Week. Junior opposite hitter Adrianna Culbert earned her third career honor on Monday.
Culbert, a native of Delton, Mich., helped CSU to a pair of conference wins, defeating Wyoming in Laramie and Fresno State at home. The versatile six-rotation player averaged 3.00 kills per set on .567 hitting, in addition to 3.83 digs, 1.00 blocks, 1.33 assists and a service ace.
