Colorado State University Athletics
Saturday, October 26
Fort Collins, Colo.
1 PM MT
Colorado State
20-1,10-0MW
3
vs
0
Nevada
14-8,4-6MW
1
2
3
F
Nevada
12
16
25
0
Colorado State
25
25
27
3
Photo by: Abby Mathieson
No. 14 Rams Earn 20th Win of the Season with Sweep over Wolf Pack
10/26/2019 3:24:00 PM | Volleyball
Colorado State swept Nevada to reach the 20-win plateau for the 25th consecutive season
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Injuries have stung No. 14 Colorado State volleyball in the recent past.
Since 2017, injuries to Kirstie Hillyer, Alexandra Poletto and Sanja Cizmic have all played a role in hindering the Rams' ceiling. This year, they've injected more rest. In their 25-12, 25-16, 27-25 win over Nevada, as well as Thursday's win over San Jose State, they've continued to test their depth.
"It's good to give rest," Colorado State head coach Tom Hilbert said. "It's good give those other guys (time), keep them fresh and get them alert to playing in the games. It's good for everybody."
Both games saw the Rams put in 13 different players. On the year, 11 players have appeared in double-digit matches. No player on the active roster has played in fewer than seven.
On top of their rest in matches, the team avoids lengthy, jarring practices, which can weaken players.
"I don't get out there and practice them two (to) three hours a day," Hilbert said. "I think that's why we're staying pretty healthy, knock on wood, and I hope it continues that way."
The Rams were the unanimous preseason favorite in the Mountain West – a conference they have won 16 times under Hilbert. It's different in 2019 though.
Key cogs in the Rams' success like Katie Oleksak, Hillyer and Paulina Hougaard-Jensen are all set to graduate. The three combined for 26 kills and 36 assists in the win, and the latter two have accounted for 386 of the team's 983 kills this year.
The pressure of winning the conference is nothing new, but facing a last chance is.
"There's pressure, but it's good pressure and it's positive pressure," Oleksak said. "We keep saying to each other, 'This is a year of cans.' We just want to keep using that motto."
Injuries are the last thing they need to be add to the already hefty burden the seniors are enduring. When the Rams get up big in a set, they're going to let players rest. A tired muscle is easier to injure, so Hilbert's avoiding it as much as possible.
The players are embracing the added time for their backups.
"When it's time to sub in, we know that we've done our part," Hillyer said. "Giving them the opportunity to go in is a cool feeling."
As the season draws on, several milestones are in reach. The Rams are currently on pace to eclipse their 28-2 record in 2013 as the best under Hilbert. Breaking the program's longest win streak of 27 is also plausible.
All of the accolades are swell. They don't bring home the title of "best in the nation" though. If it's not going to produce hardware, it's not a top priority.
"I focus on the team, and as a result, when we're working hard and working cohesively, the personal accolades kind of just come," Oleksak said. "For me, first and foremost, is team success. Going far in the NCAA Tournament is definitely up there."
The Rams' homestand continues Tuesday and Thursday against Wyoming and Air Force respectively. It's just another chance for the team to prove they're not only the best in the state, but the best in the region.
"We know that Wyoming is a good team," Breana Runnels said. "Obviously, we're going to hype up this game, it's our Border War. Air Force is always going to bring out something different that we don't necessarily always see. I would say that we go into each game with the same goal and try to keep our composure and play at our highest level."
MATCH NOTES
- The Rams recorded its 14th sweep of the season
- Colorado State extended its winning streak to 19 matches
- CSU put up nine blocks – including five in the first set and kept the Wolf Pack to a .095 hitting mark
- Breana Runnels led the Rams, flooring 14 kills and hitting .333
- Both middles, Paulina Hougaard-Jensen and Kirstie Hillyer added eight kills and hitting over .600
- Alexa Roumeliotis picked up 11 digs and added two aces
- Alyssa Bert also recorded three aces
- Hillyer led the CSU block with seven blocks – with three solo
- Katie Oleksak dished out 35 assists
UP NEXT
Colorado State will have a quick turnaround as it hosts second-place Wyoming on Tuesday for the second-edition of the Border War and State Pride.
Since 2017, injuries to Kirstie Hillyer, Alexandra Poletto and Sanja Cizmic have all played a role in hindering the Rams' ceiling. This year, they've injected more rest. In their 25-12, 25-16, 27-25 win over Nevada, as well as Thursday's win over San Jose State, they've continued to test their depth.
"It's good to give rest," Colorado State head coach Tom Hilbert said. "It's good give those other guys (time), keep them fresh and get them alert to playing in the games. It's good for everybody."
Both games saw the Rams put in 13 different players. On the year, 11 players have appeared in double-digit matches. No player on the active roster has played in fewer than seven.
On top of their rest in matches, the team avoids lengthy, jarring practices, which can weaken players.
"I don't get out there and practice them two (to) three hours a day," Hilbert said. "I think that's why we're staying pretty healthy, knock on wood, and I hope it continues that way."
The Rams were the unanimous preseason favorite in the Mountain West – a conference they have won 16 times under Hilbert. It's different in 2019 though.
Key cogs in the Rams' success like Katie Oleksak, Hillyer and Paulina Hougaard-Jensen are all set to graduate. The three combined for 26 kills and 36 assists in the win, and the latter two have accounted for 386 of the team's 983 kills this year.
The pressure of winning the conference is nothing new, but facing a last chance is.
"There's pressure, but it's good pressure and it's positive pressure," Oleksak said. "We keep saying to each other, 'This is a year of cans.' We just want to keep using that motto."
Injuries are the last thing they need to be add to the already hefty burden the seniors are enduring. When the Rams get up big in a set, they're going to let players rest. A tired muscle is easier to injure, so Hilbert's avoiding it as much as possible.
The players are embracing the added time for their backups.
"When it's time to sub in, we know that we've done our part," Hillyer said. "Giving them the opportunity to go in is a cool feeling."
As the season draws on, several milestones are in reach. The Rams are currently on pace to eclipse their 28-2 record in 2013 as the best under Hilbert. Breaking the program's longest win streak of 27 is also plausible.
All of the accolades are swell. They don't bring home the title of "best in the nation" though. If it's not going to produce hardware, it's not a top priority.
"I focus on the team, and as a result, when we're working hard and working cohesively, the personal accolades kind of just come," Oleksak said. "For me, first and foremost, is team success. Going far in the NCAA Tournament is definitely up there."
The Rams' homestand continues Tuesday and Thursday against Wyoming and Air Force respectively. It's just another chance for the team to prove they're not only the best in the state, but the best in the region.
"We know that Wyoming is a good team," Breana Runnels said. "Obviously, we're going to hype up this game, it's our Border War. Air Force is always going to bring out something different that we don't necessarily always see. I would say that we go into each game with the same goal and try to keep our composure and play at our highest level."
MATCH NOTES
- The Rams recorded its 14th sweep of the season
- Colorado State extended its winning streak to 19 matches
- CSU put up nine blocks – including five in the first set and kept the Wolf Pack to a .095 hitting mark
- Breana Runnels led the Rams, flooring 14 kills and hitting .333
- Both middles, Paulina Hougaard-Jensen and Kirstie Hillyer added eight kills and hitting over .600
- Alexa Roumeliotis picked up 11 digs and added two aces
- Alyssa Bert also recorded three aces
- Hillyer led the CSU block with seven blocks – with three solo
- Katie Oleksak dished out 35 assists
UP NEXT
Colorado State will have a quick turnaround as it hosts second-place Wyoming on Tuesday for the second-edition of the Border War and State Pride.
#PointRams
Team Stats
NEV
CSU
Kills
30
42
Errors
20
7
Attempts
105
92
Hitting %
.095
.380
Points
35.0
59.0
Assists
29
42
Aces
3
8
Blocks
2.0
9.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
DS/L
/ Volleyball
OH/OPP
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ VolleyballOH
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