Colorado State University Athletics
Friday, December 6
Seattle, Wash. / Alaska Airlines Arena
6 PM MT
Colorado State
29-2, 18-0MW
2
vs
3
South Carolina
20-11, 11-7SEC
1
2
3
4
5
F
South Carolina
27
17
25
14
18
3
Colorado State
25
25
22
25
16
2
Photo by: Jamie Mitchell
No. 10 Rams End Season in Seattle
12/6/2019 11:08:00 PM | Volleyball
Colorado State ended its historic 2019 season in the first round of the NCAA Tournament
SEATTLE – Good things come to an end.
For No. 10 Colorado State volleyball, it's run was great, superb even. The Rams entered the NCAA Tournament on the heels of a 28-match win streak, the longest in program history. A loss was foreign to them dating back to August 31.
South Carolina, led by their pair of Mikayla's – Robinson and Shields – was a new challenge altogether. Friday's 27-25, 17-25, 25-22, 14-25, 18-16 loss at Alaska Airlines Arena for the Rams was the Gamecocks' first over a ranked opponent this year.
As the Rams' five seniors exit stage left, they'll only regret their run couldn't have ended sweeter.
"This is an incredible group that stayed together over a long period of time," head coach Tom Hilbert said. "I'm very proud of them, and I wouldn't want to coach anybody else."
The box score tells a different tale than the conclusion. The Rams outhit the Gamecocks, out-blocked them and even registered a higher side-out percentage. Breana Runnels led the match with 24 kills, her second-best total of the year.
All of the areas they excelled fell prey to unforced errors. The Rams showcased their exploits in so many points during the match. The few moments errors took over, they couldn't recover.
"It's so frustrating," Katie Oleksak said. "Those end-game situations, in different sets throughout the whole match, is when we really needed to make fewer errors and we didn't. It especially sucks because we played well in every other aspect of the game."
Their inability to play clean didn't stop them from fighting back. First, they bounced back after an opening-set miscue. Then, it was a rejuvenation after a tight-knit, third-set loss. At one point in the final set, the Rams even charged out to a 13-8 lead.
The inability to close out the game, allowing the Gamecocks to go on a 5-0 run instead, is what will sting the most. A win was so close.
A close loss in the tournament's first round isn't the story in Hilbert's eyes. The team, one of the most dominant he's ever coached, but rather fighting through an entire season as a family. Their ability to band together and support the seniors in their final journey is also a chapter.
The only wish Hilbert carries still is one which can't be granted. If only for another day, he wanted to coach the players who have represented the latest era of Rams' volleyball.
Oleksak, Hillyer, Jessica Jackson, Olivia Nicholson and Paulina Hougaard-Jensen will all be gone next year. Runnels will return, as will Sasha Colombo and Alexa Roumeliotis, among others.
In their wake, the quintet leaves a mark as large as the arena they called home. They won 102 of their 125 matches. Oleksak won three consecutive Mountain West Player of the Year awards and broke the modern-era assist record. Hillyer became one of the few players in program history to bypass 1,000 kills and 500 blocks.
As they exit, the replacements the Rams will utilize are ready.
"This group has been so amazing, both on and off the court," Oleksak said. "A lot of good leaders are leaving this program, but I think a lot of people are ready to fill our shoes."
For No. 10 Colorado State volleyball, it's run was great, superb even. The Rams entered the NCAA Tournament on the heels of a 28-match win streak, the longest in program history. A loss was foreign to them dating back to August 31.
South Carolina, led by their pair of Mikayla's – Robinson and Shields – was a new challenge altogether. Friday's 27-25, 17-25, 25-22, 14-25, 18-16 loss at Alaska Airlines Arena for the Rams was the Gamecocks' first over a ranked opponent this year.
As the Rams' five seniors exit stage left, they'll only regret their run couldn't have ended sweeter.
"This is an incredible group that stayed together over a long period of time," head coach Tom Hilbert said. "I'm very proud of them, and I wouldn't want to coach anybody else."
The box score tells a different tale than the conclusion. The Rams outhit the Gamecocks, out-blocked them and even registered a higher side-out percentage. Breana Runnels led the match with 24 kills, her second-best total of the year.
All of the areas they excelled fell prey to unforced errors. The Rams showcased their exploits in so many points during the match. The few moments errors took over, they couldn't recover.
"It's so frustrating," Katie Oleksak said. "Those end-game situations, in different sets throughout the whole match, is when we really needed to make fewer errors and we didn't. It especially sucks because we played well in every other aspect of the game."
Their inability to play clean didn't stop them from fighting back. First, they bounced back after an opening-set miscue. Then, it was a rejuvenation after a tight-knit, third-set loss. At one point in the final set, the Rams even charged out to a 13-8 lead.
The inability to close out the game, allowing the Gamecocks to go on a 5-0 run instead, is what will sting the most. A win was so close.
A close loss in the tournament's first round isn't the story in Hilbert's eyes. The team, one of the most dominant he's ever coached, but rather fighting through an entire season as a family. Their ability to band together and support the seniors in their final journey is also a chapter.
The only wish Hilbert carries still is one which can't be granted. If only for another day, he wanted to coach the players who have represented the latest era of Rams' volleyball.
Oleksak, Hillyer, Jessica Jackson, Olivia Nicholson and Paulina Hougaard-Jensen will all be gone next year. Runnels will return, as will Sasha Colombo and Alexa Roumeliotis, among others.
In their wake, the quintet leaves a mark as large as the arena they called home. They won 102 of their 125 matches. Oleksak won three consecutive Mountain West Player of the Year awards and broke the modern-era assist record. Hillyer became one of the few players in program history to bypass 1,000 kills and 500 blocks.
As they exit, the replacements the Rams will utilize are ready.
"This group has been so amazing, both on and off the court," Oleksak said. "A lot of good leaders are leaving this program, but I think a lot of people are ready to fill our shoes."
#PointRams
Team Stats
SC
CSU
Kills
58
73
Errors
18
20
Attempts
157
167
Hitting %
.255
.317
Points
67.0
95.0
Assists
51
69
Aces
4
9
Blocks
5.0
13.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
24
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
8
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
MB/OPP
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ VolleyballOH
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