Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
19-7 (13-2)
Nevada
18-9 (9-6)
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Recap: Rams sweep Nevada in efficient team performance
11/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
RENO, Nev. - Colorado State utilized a stellar all-around performance to sweep the Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno, Nevada on Saturday afternoon.
The Rams (19-7, 13-2 MW) were led by double-digit kill totals by both Sanja Cizmic (12) and Jasmine Hanna (11). Alexandra Poletto added 9 kills on .818 hitting and Kirstie Hillyer provided 11 blocks. Nevada (18-9, 9-6 MW) was coming off a four-match win streak, including a sweep of Wyoming on Thursday.
Jasmine Hanna gave CSU a pair of kills immediately to open the first set, and the Rams never trailed. The Rams hit .400 as a team in the period, holding Nevada to -.076. CSU also outblocked the Wolf Pack 6-0, with Kirstie Hillyer providing 5 block assists and 1 solo herself. Leading 10-7, the Rams went on a 12-4 run to close the set, including consecutive aces by Katie Oleksak and 3 kills by Sanja Cizmic. The Rams went on to win the set, 25-11.
It was Hanna who again set the tone for the Rams in Set 2. With the Rams trailing 12-9, Hanna had the first of her eventual 5 kills in the frame, leading a Rams charge to their first lead of the set at 16-15. Nevada did briefly regain the lead after a timeout at 17-16, but it was Hanna who provided 3 kills in succession to put CSU up 21-19. The Rams would lead the rest of the set, with kills by Alexandra Poletto and Cizmic finishing off the period with a 25-21 Rams win.
Cizmic decided it was her turn to take control in the third set, totaling 6 kills in the frame as CSU hit .452 as a team. The Rams used a 7-2 run to take a 17-9 lead, including consecutive kills by Cizmic. Nevada pulled to within 4 at 18-14, but Hanna's 11th kill and another combo block by Hillyer and Olivia Nicholson extended the Rams lead. Cizmic finished the match by scoring 3 of the Rams final 5 points to give CSU a 25-18 third set victory.
STAT OF THE DAY…
.818 - Alexandra Poletto hit a personal-best .818 (9-0-11) for the match. It marked the fourth time this season that Poletto has hit .700 or better. CSU hit .368 as a team, and hit .400 or better in the first and third sets.
NOTES…
• CSU hit .368 as a team, while holding Nevada to .106. The disparity was particularly notable in the first set, as the Rams outhit the Wolf Pack .368 to -.074.
• CSU had 14.5 blocks as a team, led by 11 from Kirstie Hillyer. Jasmine Hanna had 4 with 2 solos, and Olivia Nicholson added 7.
• The Rams have not lost to Nevada since the Wolf Pack joined the Mountain West in 2012.
• Katie Oleksak had 36 assists, putting her above her season average per set. She also had 4 kills on 4 attempts and 3 service aces.
NEXT…
The Rams will head back to Boise to face the Boise State Broncos in a battle of the top two teams in the MW on Wednesday.