Colorado State University Athletics
Thursday, September 19
Fort Collins, Colo.
7 PM MT
Colorado State
9-1
3
vs
0
Cal Poly
5-5
1
2
3
F
Cal Poly
15
10
16
0
Colorado State
25
25
25
3
No. 22 Rams Block Their Way Past Cal Poly
9/19/2019 10:08:00 PM | Volleyball
Colorado State sets a modern-scoring record with 16.5 blocks as it swept the Mustangs for its seventh sweep of the season
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Newly ranked Colorado State is proving it deserves the national attention by rolling through Cal Poly in a 25-15, 25-10, 25-16 sweep at Moby Arena.
The No. 22 Rams created their eighth sweep in the first 10 matches and improved to an impressive 9-1 on the season. The Rams came into Thursday's match with intensity and turned up the heat defensively with a total of 16.5 blocks, 10 from middle blocker Paulina Hougaard-Jensen.
"The service pressure and effective blocking we had really prepared us for success," head coach Tom Hilbert said. "Our defense did a great job of disrupting them and that forced them out of rhythm."
Paired with great defense, CSU didn't hesitate to bring its game offensively, and outside hitter Breana Runnels stole the show with 13 kills and a .462 attack percentage.
CSU's offense has been able to sweep most of their opponents thanks to great communication and team play, but the Rams realize most games won't be sweeps, so remaining humble and focusing on the task at hand is their biggest priority moving forward.
"It's exciting being able to go out and sweep teams, but we know that's not how every game is going to go," outside hitter Jessica Jackson said.
The Rams treat each opponent as if it's their toughest matchup, and a large portion of their success comes from staying humble and always being prepared for a close match.
"We have to prepare for every game as if it's going to be a five-set match so that when the time comes, we'll be ready for it," Jackson said. "We try to maintain high energy and be ready to adjust for anything."
This game marked the second sweep in the Rams' three-game spree, and they'll be back in Moby Arena Friday to finish their non-conference schedule against Oregon State (7 p.m.).
MATCH NOTES
- The Rams improve to 9-1 on the season after recording their seventh sweep of the season
- CSU's defense kept Cal Poly to a -.072 hitting mark – it's fifth opponent of the season that has been .000 or below
- Colorado State recorded a season high 16.5 blocks, which is the most in a three-set match in modern-scoring history
- Paulina Hougaard-Jensen dominated the net with 10 blocks in the sweep
- Breana Runnels was nearly perfect as she led the Rams with 14 kills, hitting .481 in the match with just one attack error
- Katie Oleksak dished out 29 assists and was shy of her third double-double of the season with nine digs
- Alexa Roumeliotis paced the back row with 10 digs
- Runnels also added six blocks – two solo – to her line, while Sasha Colombo put up four blocks
- The Rams served tough, dropping in seven aces
- CSU also held a high side-out mark, averaging at 69 percent
UP NEXT
The Rams will finish their three-matches-in-three-days week with the final match of the week on Friday night against Oregon State.
The No. 22 Rams created their eighth sweep in the first 10 matches and improved to an impressive 9-1 on the season. The Rams came into Thursday's match with intensity and turned up the heat defensively with a total of 16.5 blocks, 10 from middle blocker Paulina Hougaard-Jensen.
"The service pressure and effective blocking we had really prepared us for success," head coach Tom Hilbert said. "Our defense did a great job of disrupting them and that forced them out of rhythm."
Paired with great defense, CSU didn't hesitate to bring its game offensively, and outside hitter Breana Runnels stole the show with 13 kills and a .462 attack percentage.
CSU's offense has been able to sweep most of their opponents thanks to great communication and team play, but the Rams realize most games won't be sweeps, so remaining humble and focusing on the task at hand is their biggest priority moving forward.
"It's exciting being able to go out and sweep teams, but we know that's not how every game is going to go," outside hitter Jessica Jackson said.
The Rams treat each opponent as if it's their toughest matchup, and a large portion of their success comes from staying humble and always being prepared for a close match.
"We have to prepare for every game as if it's going to be a five-set match so that when the time comes, we'll be ready for it," Jackson said. "We try to maintain high energy and be ready to adjust for anything."
This game marked the second sweep in the Rams' three-game spree, and they'll be back in Moby Arena Friday to finish their non-conference schedule against Oregon State (7 p.m.).
MATCH NOTES
- The Rams improve to 9-1 on the season after recording their seventh sweep of the season
- CSU's defense kept Cal Poly to a -.072 hitting mark – it's fifth opponent of the season that has been .000 or below
- Colorado State recorded a season high 16.5 blocks, which is the most in a three-set match in modern-scoring history
- Paulina Hougaard-Jensen dominated the net with 10 blocks in the sweep
- Breana Runnels was nearly perfect as she led the Rams with 14 kills, hitting .481 in the match with just one attack error
- Katie Oleksak dished out 29 assists and was shy of her third double-double of the season with nine digs
- Alexa Roumeliotis paced the back row with 10 digs
- Runnels also added six blocks – two solo – to her line, while Sasha Colombo put up four blocks
- The Rams served tough, dropping in seven aces
- CSU also held a high side-out mark, averaging at 69 percent
UP NEXT
The Rams will finish their three-matches-in-three-days week with the final match of the week on Friday night against Oregon State.
#PointRams
Team Stats
CP
CSU
Kills
20
37
Errors
27
10
Attempts
97
86
Hitting %
-.072
.314
Points
28.5
60.5
Assists
19
35
Aces
3
7
Blocks
5.5
16.5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
15
Aces
1
Blocks
6
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
10
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
MB/OPP
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ VolleyballOH
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