Colorado State University Athletics
Friday, September 20
Fort Collins, Colo.
7 PM MT
Colorado State
10-1
3
vs
1
Oregon State
6-4
1
2
3
4
F
Oregon St.
16
17
26
22
1
Colorado State
25
25
24
25
3
Photo by: Cris Tiller
No. 22 Rams Complete Perfect Week
9/20/2019 10:23:00 PM | Volleyball
Colorado State finished the last gauntlet in its non-conference schedule, going 3-0 over the past three days.
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado State is stuck asking: "Why not us?"
Why can't the No. 22 Rams push through a tough out-of-conference schedule?
Each year, the Rams struggle to gain ground in national rankings. Their conference – one that's routinely overlooked – provides little assistance. Their win over Oregon State 25-16, 25-17, 24-26, 25-22 was another opportunity to take down a Power 5 opponent and prove their worth.
It wrapped up the team's best non-conference slate since 2014 when they went 12-1.
"In preseason, before we even started practicing, we asked the question, 'why not us?'" Breana Runnels said. "Everyone being so experienced… Why is this not our time? I think we're really just pushing for that."
That 2014 squad was led by outside hitters Jasmine Hanna and Marlee Reynolds, facilitated by setter Deedra Foss. This year, the team is similarly led by back-to-back Mountain West Player of the Year, setter Katie Oleksak and Runnels on the edge.
The 2014 iteration of Tom Hilbert's Rams went 29-2 before being ousted in the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. Even with two losses, they entered the big dance as a 15-seed.
"Both teams had great balance," Hilbert said. "Both teams have great setting… That was a great team (in) 2014, this is a great team. I think we can do the same things."
Each player on the roster knows the significance of a single loss against an opponent that doesn't dawn the Mountain West seal. The four players who are set to graduate after the year – Oleksak, Kirstie Hillyer, Olivia Nicholson and Paulina Hougaard-Jensen – know the struggle to a greater degree.
"Last three years, we've gotten down to that selection show for the NCAA and kind of been on edge sometimes," Oleksak said. "This year, we wanted to secure (our) spot."
It's hard to make a better opening impression than the Rams did.
In 11 matches, they dropped six total sets. Taking out their loss to California brings the total down to three. Even as leaders in the country, the Rams have refused to take anything for granted.
"I think that people should definitely keep their eye on us," Runnels said. "If we treat ourselves like the underdog, we have nothing to lose. Every night we're going to give our all on the court."
The Beavers struggled most of the match to even get within arm's reach. When they did in the second set due to six service errors from the hosts, it was short-lived. A one-point lead quickly turned into an eight-point win behind four second set kills from Runnels, three from Jessica Jackson. Hougaard-Jensen led a trio of Rams with double-digit kills with 14; Runnels had 12 and Jackson 10.
When things got tight, fatigue set in and the Rams dropped their first set of the UNC/CSU Classic, they fought through – the way contenders do.
"We're all physically drained right now," Oleksak said. "It comes down to the mental game at this point."
Now, the real test begins. The Rams will be the proverbial Goliath in each match the rest of the year. Dating back to 2015, they've lost a combined seven matches against conference foes. An opportunity for a slip-up is ever-present nonetheless.
"This is a year where there's a lot of unknowns in the Mountain West," Hilbert said. "We will have a target on our back and three things happen: One, we're playing teams that play us a lot and know us; No. 2, they bring their 'A' games every time; and No. 3, now there's a whole plethora of statistical and video stuff (that) people can study.
"The longer the season goes on, the more they start to see patterns."
MATCH NOTES
- The Rams finished their non-conference schedule 10-1 – their best mark in the non-conference schedule since 2014
- Of the 10 victories, six have been against a Power 5 (Oklahoma, Florida State, TCU, CU 2x, Oregon State)
- CSU recorded 13 blocks in the four-set match, led by Kirstie Hillyer who had seven
- Paulina Hougaard-Jensen paced the Rams with 14 kills and hitting .400
- Breana Runnels and Jessica Jackson followed with 12 and 10 kills, respectfully
- Alexa Roumeliotis tallied a team-high 13 digs in the back row
- Katie Oleksak dished out 41 assists and added six digs and kills
- CSU kept the Beavers to a negative hitting mark except in the last two sets
- The Beavers finished with a .105 hitting percentage to the Rams' .273 tick
UP NEXT
Colorado State will begin Mountain West action on Thursday night, hosting New Mexico at 7 p.m., MT.
Why can't the No. 22 Rams push through a tough out-of-conference schedule?
Each year, the Rams struggle to gain ground in national rankings. Their conference – one that's routinely overlooked – provides little assistance. Their win over Oregon State 25-16, 25-17, 24-26, 25-22 was another opportunity to take down a Power 5 opponent and prove their worth.
It wrapped up the team's best non-conference slate since 2014 when they went 12-1.
"In preseason, before we even started practicing, we asked the question, 'why not us?'" Breana Runnels said. "Everyone being so experienced… Why is this not our time? I think we're really just pushing for that."
That 2014 squad was led by outside hitters Jasmine Hanna and Marlee Reynolds, facilitated by setter Deedra Foss. This year, the team is similarly led by back-to-back Mountain West Player of the Year, setter Katie Oleksak and Runnels on the edge.
The 2014 iteration of Tom Hilbert's Rams went 29-2 before being ousted in the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament. Even with two losses, they entered the big dance as a 15-seed.
"Both teams had great balance," Hilbert said. "Both teams have great setting… That was a great team (in) 2014, this is a great team. I think we can do the same things."
Each player on the roster knows the significance of a single loss against an opponent that doesn't dawn the Mountain West seal. The four players who are set to graduate after the year – Oleksak, Kirstie Hillyer, Olivia Nicholson and Paulina Hougaard-Jensen – know the struggle to a greater degree.
"Last three years, we've gotten down to that selection show for the NCAA and kind of been on edge sometimes," Oleksak said. "This year, we wanted to secure (our) spot."
It's hard to make a better opening impression than the Rams did.
In 11 matches, they dropped six total sets. Taking out their loss to California brings the total down to three. Even as leaders in the country, the Rams have refused to take anything for granted.
"I think that people should definitely keep their eye on us," Runnels said. "If we treat ourselves like the underdog, we have nothing to lose. Every night we're going to give our all on the court."
The Beavers struggled most of the match to even get within arm's reach. When they did in the second set due to six service errors from the hosts, it was short-lived. A one-point lead quickly turned into an eight-point win behind four second set kills from Runnels, three from Jessica Jackson. Hougaard-Jensen led a trio of Rams with double-digit kills with 14; Runnels had 12 and Jackson 10.
When things got tight, fatigue set in and the Rams dropped their first set of the UNC/CSU Classic, they fought through – the way contenders do.
"We're all physically drained right now," Oleksak said. "It comes down to the mental game at this point."
Now, the real test begins. The Rams will be the proverbial Goliath in each match the rest of the year. Dating back to 2015, they've lost a combined seven matches against conference foes. An opportunity for a slip-up is ever-present nonetheless.
"This is a year where there's a lot of unknowns in the Mountain West," Hilbert said. "We will have a target on our back and three things happen: One, we're playing teams that play us a lot and know us; No. 2, they bring their 'A' games every time; and No. 3, now there's a whole plethora of statistical and video stuff (that) people can study.
"The longer the season goes on, the more they start to see patterns."
MATCH NOTES
- The Rams finished their non-conference schedule 10-1 – their best mark in the non-conference schedule since 2014
- Of the 10 victories, six have been against a Power 5 (Oklahoma, Florida State, TCU, CU 2x, Oregon State)
- CSU recorded 13 blocks in the four-set match, led by Kirstie Hillyer who had seven
- Paulina Hougaard-Jensen paced the Rams with 14 kills and hitting .400
- Breana Runnels and Jessica Jackson followed with 12 and 10 kills, respectfully
- Alexa Roumeliotis tallied a team-high 13 digs in the back row
- Katie Oleksak dished out 41 assists and added six digs and kills
- CSU kept the Beavers to a negative hitting mark except in the last two sets
- The Beavers finished with a .105 hitting percentage to the Rams' .273 tick
UP NEXT
Colorado State will begin Mountain West action on Thursday night, hosting New Mexico at 7 p.m., MT.
#PointRams
Team Stats
OSU
CSU
Kills
44
54
Errors
30
19
Attempts
133
128
Hitting %
.105
.273
Points
60.0
71.0
Assists
44
50
Aces
6
4
Blocks
10.0
13.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
12
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Players Mentioned
OH
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballMB
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ VolleyballOH
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