Colorado State University Athletics
NCAA tournament selection show watch party quotes
11/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Release: CSU volleyball selected to host NCAA tournament matches
Head Coach Tom Hilbert
(on his thoughts on hosting first- and second-round NCAA tournament matches at Moby Arena)
“I'm extremely excited to be hosting a sub-regional at Moby Arena. I think it's great news for us and for our fans, and it's a nice tribute to the kind of season our team has had. It's also a testament to how good volleyball is in the state of Colorado."
(on facing Denver)
“We have to take care of business and beat a very good Denver team in order to advance to the next match. Denver's a very, very fast-paced team, and they've been on a great streak in the last part of the season. I expect them to be good and to challenge us."
(on the focus this week)
“Playing defense and being able to block a very fast outside attack, which is what Denver does. Last time we played them, they didn’t have their best player playing (Erica Denney), so she poses some interesting threats for us. We’ll see what they do. I’m excited to be hosting, and I’m honored to be hosting an NCAA event in Moby Arena.”
(on if playing DU already this season gives CSU an advantage)
“It does a little bit, but in a way it’s more of an advantage to them, because we were the ones who took the match. I would rather play a good first-round opponent. I think that helps you as you move on in the tournament.”
(on facing former assistant coach Jesse Mahoney, now DU’s head coach)
“We’re both competitors. Jesse is a great coach, and I have a great deal of respect for him. We texted today talking today about the prospects of this happening. We will now turn on our coach switch and prepare for them. We need to think about them, because they are good and they pose some great challenges for us.”
(on having four teams from the state of Colorado in the NCAA tournament)
“This whole thing is great for volleyball in the state of Colorado. This will draw a lot of people in from Denver, a lot of the club players and high school players and coaches. This will be a great weekend. What’s good about it too, is that CSU knows how to do it right. We’ll be selling tickets right away. Our people know how to do these events right. It’ll be first class, and we’ll make some money for the NCAA.”
(on his team’s reaction when CSU appeared on the TV)
“The reaction of the whole crowd is exciting. The players are excited. This place was electric.”
(on his team's success this season)
“I’m really proud of this group. We played a great season and played incredibly consistent. We set out that goal early in the year and did what we needed to do. These guys grinded through that stretch (10 matches in 15 days; eight-straight road matches), and that stretch got us the RPI that we needed. Then, we took care of business in conference. This is a great thing that this team did. This is a great program, this is a great team. We need to get in the gym now, and focus on beating the University of Denver.
Junior libero Jaime Colaizzi
(on familiarity with other teams and coaching staffs)
“I think it definitely raises the stakes. There is some pressure to win this first round, but I think it is better for us. We all know how big of a game this is going to be, and all of us are out to get past the first round. I think it will be good for us, and it’s going to make us play great.”
(on four Colorado teams being in the NCAA tournament)
“I think it is really great. It is cool that Colorado is such a great volleyball state. I also think it is going to be really cool because Moby is going to be packed. Our fans are going to be there, and their (CU, DU and UNC) fans are all going to be there, and it’s going to be huge. It will be an awesome venue for all of the teams to play at.”
(on the possibility of playing CU in the second round)
“It would be very cool. I think the rivalry is definitely still there, so there would definitely be a lot of fire if we make it to that second round.”
Freshman outside hitter Jasmine Hanna
(on hosting NCAA tournament matches at Moby Arena)
“I’m so excited. I’ve never been so excited in my life. It feels like Christmas morning to me. Finding out we get to host, especially my first year of college volleyball, is so exciting.”
(on what the team needs to work on this week)
“Just continue to play hard. We’re a great volleyball team, and we get pumped up for matches like this. We’re all so excited, and we’re going to play our best.”
(on how this compares to what she expected for her freshman season)
“We’ve had an incredible season, and now we’re hosting. We just need to take it one step at a time.”
(on playing Denver for the second time this season)
“They’re a great volleyball team. Beating them once doesn’t mean anything. We know how they play, but they know how we play. It’s going to be a great match.”
Senior outside hitter Marlee Reynolds
(on seeing Colorado State’s name during the selection show)
“Seeing our name pop up, the feeling is just indescribable. I’m just so thankful to play another game in Moby in front of these incredible fans.”
(on the expected atmosphere with four Colorado teams being at Moby Arena)
“The furthest drive is DU, and it’s maybe an hour drive. It’s going to be absolutely packed, and it’s going to be a great atmosphere to play in. It’s going to be a really cool opportunity to be a part of that.”
(on whether familiarity with Northern Colorado and Denver helps)
“I think it maybe helps, but I’m not trying to think about the preseason stuff. This is a whole different leg of the season. I don’t think we can go off of how a team was at the beginning of the year. They (Denver) won their conference, and they have a player back that I don’t think played against us, so they are going to be hungry to get out of the first round just as we are. It’s going to be a battle.”
Senior middle blocker Kelsey Snider
(on hosting NCAA tournament matches at Moby Arena)
“I’m so excited. I remember coming here on a recruiting trip, and that’s when they hosted Washington, and that was exciting so I can’t even imagine being able to host now.”
(on facing a team CSU has already played this season)
“It’s like the second part of conference. We beat them, so they’ll know what to change to try to beat us this time around. It’s a little nerve-wracking, but it gives us some confidence knowing that they’re not unbeatable.”