Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: Cris Tiller
No. 11 Rams Head to Seattle Regional for NCAA Tournament
12/1/2019 7:47:00 PM | Volleyball
Colorado State will face South Carolina for the second time (1998) in the NCAA Tournament
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Ever since the players saw their RPI drop, they've been bracing.
Colorado State is No. 11 in the country, on a 28-match winning streak and the Mountain West conference champions, yet the Rams are headed on the road to a pod hosted by eighth-seeded Washington for the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, where the Rams begin with a match with South Carolina on Dec. 6.
This was not shocking to them.
"It would have been awesome to host, and I think we did everything we could have done to do it," senior setter Katie Oleksak said. "I think it was after we played Utah State, we dropped to 25 (in RPI) or something. I said in the gym, 'let's expect to play on the road,' and that's how we've been practicing and playing. I don't think it's the end of the world that we're not hosting; it would have been amazing, but it is what it is."
The Gamecocks enter the tournament at 18-10. Washington (23-5) will face Winthrop (24-4) on the first night, with the winners playing the next day.
This is Colorado State's 25th tournament appearance in a row, and it is making the trip with a very veteran squad. It's a team coach Tom Hilbert feels is primed to extend their stay in the bracket.
"It does pay off, and we're experienced. We will know how to pressure them," Hilbert said. "I don't want to boast, but I think that we will do just fine."
After losing their opening match of the season, the Rams have done nothing but win, resulting in the third perfect conference run in school history. The Rams are led by Oleksak, the three-time Mountain West player of the year, who feeds plenty of firepower. Breana Runnels tied the school record for the most kills in a career in the modern era (1,214) and she's only a junior. In Kirstie Hillyer and Paulina Hougaard-Jensen, the Rams boast a pair of powerful middles.
Despite all that, the Rams say it is now open season. Yes, they have a great resume and a bit of a chip, but they insist the slate is clean.
"We call this the third season, the postseason," Oleksak said. "It's a grind because it's so fun and it's so different, because you're playing new people. I think it will be very good, especially with this group of seniors."
Hilbert said the senior maturity will pay off not only on the court, but off of it. When it comes time to develop and practice a game plan for new teams – on short notice with a first-night win – his group knows how to handle the turnaround.
That, and new hurdles to clear.
"I think they gave us a decent pod that's not off the charts. I wouldn't want to play Stanford, Texas and Baylor and those guys," Hilbert said. "It's our experience and our maturity. I just want to focus on South Carolina first. It's interesting. They are really a physical team. They have a middle who is more physical than (Kirstie) Hillyer; she's like a 10-foot-10 touch. Now I have to challenge Hillyer."
Colorado State is No. 11 in the country, on a 28-match winning streak and the Mountain West conference champions, yet the Rams are headed on the road to a pod hosted by eighth-seeded Washington for the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, where the Rams begin with a match with South Carolina on Dec. 6.
This was not shocking to them.
"It would have been awesome to host, and I think we did everything we could have done to do it," senior setter Katie Oleksak said. "I think it was after we played Utah State, we dropped to 25 (in RPI) or something. I said in the gym, 'let's expect to play on the road,' and that's how we've been practicing and playing. I don't think it's the end of the world that we're not hosting; it would have been amazing, but it is what it is."
The Gamecocks enter the tournament at 18-10. Washington (23-5) will face Winthrop (24-4) on the first night, with the winners playing the next day.
This is Colorado State's 25th tournament appearance in a row, and it is making the trip with a very veteran squad. It's a team coach Tom Hilbert feels is primed to extend their stay in the bracket.
"It does pay off, and we're experienced. We will know how to pressure them," Hilbert said. "I don't want to boast, but I think that we will do just fine."
After losing their opening match of the season, the Rams have done nothing but win, resulting in the third perfect conference run in school history. The Rams are led by Oleksak, the three-time Mountain West player of the year, who feeds plenty of firepower. Breana Runnels tied the school record for the most kills in a career in the modern era (1,214) and she's only a junior. In Kirstie Hillyer and Paulina Hougaard-Jensen, the Rams boast a pair of powerful middles.
Despite all that, the Rams say it is now open season. Yes, they have a great resume and a bit of a chip, but they insist the slate is clean.
"We call this the third season, the postseason," Oleksak said. "It's a grind because it's so fun and it's so different, because you're playing new people. I think it will be very good, especially with this group of seniors."
Hilbert said the senior maturity will pay off not only on the court, but off of it. When it comes time to develop and practice a game plan for new teams – on short notice with a first-night win – his group knows how to handle the turnaround.
That, and new hurdles to clear.
"I think they gave us a decent pod that's not off the charts. I wouldn't want to play Stanford, Texas and Baylor and those guys," Hilbert said. "It's our experience and our maturity. I just want to focus on South Carolina first. It's interesting. They are really a physical team. They have a middle who is more physical than (Kirstie) Hillyer; she's like a 10-foot-10 touch. Now I have to challenge Hillyer."
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