Colorado State University Athletics
Friday, August 24
Fort Collins, Colo.
7 PM MT
Colorado State
vs
Illinois
No. 25 Rams begin season hosting No. 12 Illinois, UNC Wilmington
8/22/2018 11:50:00 AM | Volleyball
Match Notes | Schedule | Roster | Quick Facts
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THE WEEK
• No. 25 Colorado State will begin the 2018 season hosting No. 12 Illinois and UNC Wilmington after posting a 29-4 overall record and winning its 14th Mountain West Championship with a 17-1 mark in 2017.
• The Rams will face No. 12 Illinois (23-11, 12-8 B1G) on Friday night at 7 p.m., before playing UNCW (11-17, 5-11 CAA) on Saturday morning at 11 a.m.
• Friday night's match is the first Top-25 match up of season for the NCAA and is also a White Out.
• Both matches this week will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network.
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LOOKING AHEAD
• The Rams will continue its non-conference schedule traveling to Northern Colorado on Tuesday, August 28 for a 7 p.m., match.
• CSU will then return to Moby Arena and host Cincinnati, Florida State and TCU the following weekend.
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OPPONENTS AT A QUICK GLANCE
• Illinois begins the season ranked No. 12 in the AVCA Preseason Poll after reaching the Sweet 16 last season and posting a 23-11, 12-8 BIG record
• UNC Wilmington recorded an 11-17, 5-11 CAA record in 2017 and finished 7th in the Colonial Athletic Association.
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RAMS AT A GLANCE
• Colorado State begins the season ranked No. 25 in the AVCA Preseason Poll.
• CSU has been ranked in the AVCA Preseason Poll 21 times since the poll started in 1982, including 15 of 22 under Head Coach Hilbert and nine since 2008.
• The Rams made its 23rd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance last season after winning its 14th Mountain West Championship.
• CSU posted a 29-4 overall record and a 17-1 mark in league play, suffering its only loss at San Jose State.
• Colorado State was tabbed to win the Mountain West with 10 first-place votes and had four players appear on the preseason team.
• Kirstie Hillyer, Paulina Hougaard-Jensen, Katie Oleksak and Breana Runnels all were named to the preseason team.
• Katie Oleksak was named the Preseason Player of the Year after earning Player of the Year honors in 2017.
• Paulina Hougaard-Jensen returns as the hitting percentage leader from 2017 after finishing swinging at a .471 clip which was No. 2 in the NCAA.
• Colorado State led the Mountain West in nine categories last season including aces, assists and hitting percentage.
• CSU dropped just eight sets in Mountain West action last season, which included three five-set matches.
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THE WEEK
• No. 25 Colorado State will begin the 2018 season hosting No. 12 Illinois and UNC Wilmington after posting a 29-4 overall record and winning its 14th Mountain West Championship with a 17-1 mark in 2017.
• The Rams will face No. 12 Illinois (23-11, 12-8 B1G) on Friday night at 7 p.m., before playing UNCW (11-17, 5-11 CAA) on Saturday morning at 11 a.m.
• Friday night's match is the first Top-25 match up of season for the NCAA and is also a White Out.
• Both matches this week will be broadcast on the Mountain West Network.
Â
LOOKING AHEAD
• The Rams will continue its non-conference schedule traveling to Northern Colorado on Tuesday, August 28 for a 7 p.m., match.
• CSU will then return to Moby Arena and host Cincinnati, Florida State and TCU the following weekend.
Â
OPPONENTS AT A QUICK GLANCE
• Illinois begins the season ranked No. 12 in the AVCA Preseason Poll after reaching the Sweet 16 last season and posting a 23-11, 12-8 BIG record
• UNC Wilmington recorded an 11-17, 5-11 CAA record in 2017 and finished 7th in the Colonial Athletic Association.
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RAMS AT A GLANCE
• Colorado State begins the season ranked No. 25 in the AVCA Preseason Poll.
• CSU has been ranked in the AVCA Preseason Poll 21 times since the poll started in 1982, including 15 of 22 under Head Coach Hilbert and nine since 2008.
• The Rams made its 23rd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance last season after winning its 14th Mountain West Championship.
• CSU posted a 29-4 overall record and a 17-1 mark in league play, suffering its only loss at San Jose State.
• Colorado State was tabbed to win the Mountain West with 10 first-place votes and had four players appear on the preseason team.
• Kirstie Hillyer, Paulina Hougaard-Jensen, Katie Oleksak and Breana Runnels all were named to the preseason team.
• Katie Oleksak was named the Preseason Player of the Year after earning Player of the Year honors in 2017.
• Paulina Hougaard-Jensen returns as the hitting percentage leader from 2017 after finishing swinging at a .471 clip which was No. 2 in the NCAA.
• Colorado State led the Mountain West in nine categories last season including aces, assists and hitting percentage.
• CSU dropped just eight sets in Mountain West action last season, which included three five-set matches.
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Players Mentioned
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