Colorado State University Athletics
Sunday, September 2
Fort Collins, Colo.
1:30 PM MT
Colorado State
4-2
3
vs
1
TCU
4-3
1
2
3
4
F
TCU
21
15
25
20
1
Colorado State
25
25
15
25
3
Photo by: Tomas Redondo
Rams finish weekend with win over TCU
9/2/2018 4:55:00 PM | Volleyball
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Colorado State volleyball team finished its tournament on a positive note, defeating TCU, 3-1 on Sunday afternoon.
In the opening frame, Colorado State took an early lead after stringing together three points to force TCU to call a timeout. CSU kept its lead through the frame, not allowing the Frogs to get within three to take the first set, 25-21.
The Rams offense picked up the pace in the second set, manufacturing four- and three-point runs to hold an 11-7 advantage. CSU then really went on the attack, opening the scoring with a seven-point tear to lead 21-12. The Rams finished the set, 25-15 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Following the break, TCU came out firing as it took an early 10-3 lead and shutdown the Rams' offense. The Frogs avoided the sweep, taking the set 25-15.
In the final frame of the weekend, both teams battled as it was tied 19-19 and neither team led by more than two points in the set. With freshman Sasha Colombo back to serve, the Rams strung together four-points to lead 23-19. TCU notched another point before a pair of blocks gave CSU the match victory.
QUOTES
Head Coach Tom Hilbert on the match…
"Set four was much like set five last night against Florida State. Sets like that are so good for a volleyball team to play and complete with a win. When teams are neck and neck and have to compete like crazy to get one little point; it is winning the hard way, but you have to learn how to do that. That is how you end up advancing in your conference race and in the NCAA Tournament – by being competitive in those situations."
Coach Hilbert on the blocking…
"I made a challenge to the team before the match on blocking, and they completed that. I thought we got better as a blocking team today, because they really focused on that skill. Paulina (Hougaard-Jensen) had some major blocks at the end of the match that were huge for our team."
Coach Hilbert on Katie Oleksak's performance…
Her blocking was huge and thought she played well. Again, she still trying to figure out tempo because the two outside hitters are a little bit different than what she is used to. What I liked about it today was that she was really good and solid in the fourth set. I haven't coached a setter that blocks as well as she does. She is very athletic and can turn the ball in – and that was big, especially at the end of the match."
STAT OF THE DAY
Katie Oleksak was one block short from her first triple double of her career, recording 45 assists, 13 digs and nine blocks.
NOTES
- Breana Runnels and Kirstie Hillyer were named to the all-tournament team.
- Runnels led the offense with 17 kills, while also dropping in a pair of service aces and adding six digs and two solo blocks.
- Jenna Heinemeyer set a career mark in digs with nine.
- Paulina Hougaard-Jensen was second on the team, recording eight blocks.
- Kirstie Hillyer threw down 15 kills, while hitting .591. She also had three blocks, including one solo.
- Maddi Foutz again led the back row with 16 digs.
- Jessica Jackson was third on the Rams' offense, adding nine kills.
Final Standings
1: Cincinnati (3-0)
2: Colorado State (2-1)
3: Florida State (1-2)
4: TCU (0-3)
All-Tournament Team
Jordan Thompson – Cincinnati
Abby Williams – Cincinnati
Kirstie Hillyer – Colorado State
Breana Runnels – Colorado State
Payton Caffrey – Florida State
élan McCall – TCU
NEXT
Colorado State will play its first true road match, as it heads to Michigan this week to play LSU, Oakland and Michigan.
In the opening frame, Colorado State took an early lead after stringing together three points to force TCU to call a timeout. CSU kept its lead through the frame, not allowing the Frogs to get within three to take the first set, 25-21.
The Rams offense picked up the pace in the second set, manufacturing four- and three-point runs to hold an 11-7 advantage. CSU then really went on the attack, opening the scoring with a seven-point tear to lead 21-12. The Rams finished the set, 25-15 to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Following the break, TCU came out firing as it took an early 10-3 lead and shutdown the Rams' offense. The Frogs avoided the sweep, taking the set 25-15.
In the final frame of the weekend, both teams battled as it was tied 19-19 and neither team led by more than two points in the set. With freshman Sasha Colombo back to serve, the Rams strung together four-points to lead 23-19. TCU notched another point before a pair of blocks gave CSU the match victory.
QUOTES
Head Coach Tom Hilbert on the match…
"Set four was much like set five last night against Florida State. Sets like that are so good for a volleyball team to play and complete with a win. When teams are neck and neck and have to compete like crazy to get one little point; it is winning the hard way, but you have to learn how to do that. That is how you end up advancing in your conference race and in the NCAA Tournament – by being competitive in those situations."
Coach Hilbert on the blocking…
"I made a challenge to the team before the match on blocking, and they completed that. I thought we got better as a blocking team today, because they really focused on that skill. Paulina (Hougaard-Jensen) had some major blocks at the end of the match that were huge for our team."
Coach Hilbert on Katie Oleksak's performance…
Her blocking was huge and thought she played well. Again, she still trying to figure out tempo because the two outside hitters are a little bit different than what she is used to. What I liked about it today was that she was really good and solid in the fourth set. I haven't coached a setter that blocks as well as she does. She is very athletic and can turn the ball in – and that was big, especially at the end of the match."
STAT OF THE DAY
Katie Oleksak was one block short from her first triple double of her career, recording 45 assists, 13 digs and nine blocks.
NOTES
- Breana Runnels and Kirstie Hillyer were named to the all-tournament team.
- Runnels led the offense with 17 kills, while also dropping in a pair of service aces and adding six digs and two solo blocks.
- Jenna Heinemeyer set a career mark in digs with nine.
- Paulina Hougaard-Jensen was second on the team, recording eight blocks.
- Kirstie Hillyer threw down 15 kills, while hitting .591. She also had three blocks, including one solo.
- Maddi Foutz again led the back row with 16 digs.
- Jessica Jackson was third on the Rams' offense, adding nine kills.
Final Standings
1: Cincinnati (3-0)
2: Colorado State (2-1)
3: Florida State (1-2)
4: TCU (0-3)
All-Tournament Team
Jordan Thompson – Cincinnati
Abby Williams – Cincinnati
Kirstie Hillyer – Colorado State
Breana Runnels – Colorado State
Payton Caffrey – Florida State
élan McCall – TCU
NEXT
Colorado State will play its first true road match, as it heads to Michigan this week to play LSU, Oakland and Michigan.
#PointRams
Team Stats
TCU
CSU
Kills
51
49
Errors
28
14
Attempts
142
121
Hitting %
.162
.289
Points
64.0
70.0
Assists
49
49
Aces
5
7
Blocks
8.0
14.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
17
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
1
Blocks
8
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