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Recap: CSU falls at Wyoming, 3-1
10/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
LARAMIE, Wyo. - The Colorado State Rams lost for the second time in three matches, falling at rival Wyoming, 3-1, on Tuesday evening at the UniWyo Sports Complex.
CSU (14-7, 8-2 MW) lost to Wyoming (14-9, 7-3 MW) for the first time since 2011, and for the first time in less than four sets since 1997. The Rams are now in a three-way tie for first place in the Mountain West (UNLV, Boise State).
Wyoming got off to a fast start in the first set, scoring the first 4 points and ultimately taking a commanding 16-8 lead, with CSU using both of its timeouts early. The Rams began their comeback after their second timeout, going on a 9-2 run behind strong blocking to pull within 1 at 18-17. Wyoming scored the next 2 points, but the Rams rallied again and tied the set for the first time at 24-24 following a solo block from Katie Oleksak. CSU never gained a set point, but did fight off three by Wyoming. The Cowgirls finished off the set on their fourth try, however, with an ace to win 27-25.
The second set was highly competitive throughout, featuring 16 tied scores and nine lead changes. Neither team led by more than 2 during the frame. Kirstie Hillyer had a dominant stretch to give CSU its first lead of the set, combining on 2 blocks and registering a pair of kills to put CSU up 10-8. Alexandra Poletto had a kill following a pair of points by Jasmine Hanna to give CSU set point at 24-23, but Wyoming countered with a pair of aces and won Set 2, 27-25.
The Rams came out of the intermission and led the third frame wire-to-wire, with the Rams hitting .423 in the period and dominating play. CSU jumped out to a 15-9 lead following a kill by Poletto after she had just been called for a blocking violation. Wyoming went on a 4-1 run to cut the Rams lead to 3, but CSU rolled from there, scoring 9 of the next 12 points to secure the 25-16 victory in the third set.
CSU scored 3 of the first 4 points of the fourth set, but the lead would evaporate quickly. Wyoming put together a 7-1 run to take an 8-4 lead, and the Rams would not get closer than 2 points the rest of the way. After hitting .423 in the third set, the Rams hit just .103 in the fourth with only 11 kills, while Wyoming hit .370. Wyoming clinched the match with a 25-18 win in the fourth.
STAT OF THE DAY…
8 - Katie Oleksak led all players in the match with 8 blocks. Oleksak, a freshman setter, is now averaging 1.08 blocks per set.
NOTES…
• Jasmine Hanna reached double-digits in kills (15) for the 12th time this season. Her kill total led all players in the match.
• Both teams hit sub-.200, with the Rams actually outhitting the Cowgirls, .178-.129.
• Katie Oleksak provided 44 assists, but also led the team with 8 blocks (2 solo).
• McKenna Thornlow had 2 aces, marking three consecutive matches that the junior has had multiple aces
• The Rams held the Cowgirls to -.036 hitting in the third set, but the home team regrouped to hit .370 in the decisive fourth.
NEXT…
The Rams will return to Moby Arena after their three-match road trip to host Utah State on Saturday at 1 p.m. MT. Tickets are available at csurams.com/tickets and the match can be streamed via the MW Network at csurams.com/videos.