Colorado State University Athletics
Post-Match Quotes: CSU volleyball vs. New Mexico
11/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 15, 2014
Recap | Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery 
Head Coach Tom Hilbert
(on his overview of the match)
“I’m very proud of my team. There were moments where we had a lot of giveaways, but we competed very well. We understood what they were doing, our block was set up well to create some opportunities and we defended real well – especially in critical times. The second set wasn’t good because we had too many giveaways and missed serves. This team is going to survive with putting service pressure on. I don’t want to have as many unforced errors as we did, but as I think about it, a lot of those occurred in Set 2. In any event, we played a good game against a good team."
(on the Rams’ success on defense)
“We did a nice job on Chantale Riddle and Cassie House, who are their premier players. It was a good effort, especially from a blocking and defensive standpoint. They did a good job blocking us too, but it didn’t matter because we reduced the other error categories, served tougher and did some other things really well.”
(on winning a competitive match)
“We need matches like this, because the NCAA tournament is going to be like this. As hard as they are to sit through, I’m sitting there and am as nervous as anybody, but when your team is playing with intensity, passion, getting after it, making defensive plays, watching, focusing, talking and doing all the things they’re supposed to do, you’re going to do well in these situations. I was very pleased. We bounced back after the second set, we played great in the third and then we overcame a deficit in the fourth. All of these are competitive experiences that are good for this team to go through, and I’m very pleased.”
(on Alexandra Poletto’s performance)
“I was pleased with her offensive production, and she blocked the ball well, too. She was a presence out there, and I don’t think that they expected it. I’m sure that they went into this not game planning or thinking about that happening. Axi has a nice high-contact point and a fast arm. There are parts of her game which we will improve in the next three years, but she’s doing those things very well, and it made a huge difference for us tonight.”
Junior opposite hitter Adrianna Culbert
(on the team’s focus on Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year Chantale Riddle)
“We focused on her a lot. We know that she’s a great player, and in order for us to beat New Mexico, we have to be able to stop their key players. We just put a focus on that this week and we executed it really well with our block, being able to run balls down and see where she’s going to hit on defense.”
(on the team’s focus after Set 2)
“It was more about calming down and putting that stuff behind us. We have to come out and not expect them to make a bunch of errors or to give us the game. We have to play our own game in order to win.”
Freshman middle blocker Alexandra Poletto
(on earning her second career start)
“It was exciting. I’ve been injured for too long, in my opinion, and I was ready to go. For the past few weeks that I’ve been practicing, I’ve been trying really hard to get back into it and get my timing back. I was done sitting on the bench, so I was trying really hard. It was a great experience to finally get the chance to play, and it was fun.”
(on having a previous start under her belt (Sept. 5 vs. Florida A&M))
“It’s always good to have experience starting. You know how it feels, and it’s not a complete shock.”
(on his overview of the match)
“I’m very proud of my team. There were moments where we had a lot of giveaways, but we competed very well. We understood what they were doing, our block was set up well to create some opportunities and we defended real well – especially in critical times. The second set wasn’t good because we had too many giveaways and missed serves. This team is going to survive with putting service pressure on. I don’t want to have as many unforced errors as we did, but as I think about it, a lot of those occurred in Set 2. In any event, we played a good game against a good team."
(on the Rams’ success on defense)
“We did a nice job on Chantale Riddle and Cassie House, who are their premier players. It was a good effort, especially from a blocking and defensive standpoint. They did a good job blocking us too, but it didn’t matter because we reduced the other error categories, served tougher and did some other things really well.”
(on winning a competitive match)
“We need matches like this, because the NCAA tournament is going to be like this. As hard as they are to sit through, I’m sitting there and am as nervous as anybody, but when your team is playing with intensity, passion, getting after it, making defensive plays, watching, focusing, talking and doing all the things they’re supposed to do, you’re going to do well in these situations. I was very pleased. We bounced back after the second set, we played great in the third and then we overcame a deficit in the fourth. All of these are competitive experiences that are good for this team to go through, and I’m very pleased.”
(on Alexandra Poletto’s performance)
“I was pleased with her offensive production, and she blocked the ball well, too. She was a presence out there, and I don’t think that they expected it. I’m sure that they went into this not game planning or thinking about that happening. Axi has a nice high-contact point and a fast arm. There are parts of her game which we will improve in the next three years, but she’s doing those things very well, and it made a huge difference for us tonight.”
Junior opposite hitter Adrianna Culbert
(on the team’s focus on Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year Chantale Riddle)
“We focused on her a lot. We know that she’s a great player, and in order for us to beat New Mexico, we have to be able to stop their key players. We just put a focus on that this week and we executed it really well with our block, being able to run balls down and see where she’s going to hit on defense.”
(on the team’s focus after Set 2)
“It was more about calming down and putting that stuff behind us. We have to come out and not expect them to make a bunch of errors or to give us the game. We have to play our own game in order to win.”
Freshman middle blocker Alexandra Poletto
(on earning her second career start)
“It was exciting. I’ve been injured for too long, in my opinion, and I was ready to go. For the past few weeks that I’ve been practicing, I’ve been trying really hard to get back into it and get my timing back. I was done sitting on the bench, so I was trying really hard. It was a great experience to finally get the chance to play, and it was fun.”
(on having a previous start under her belt (Sept. 5 vs. Florida A&M))
“It’s always good to have experience starting. You know how it feels, and it’s not a complete shock.”
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