Rams Extend Winning Streak, Defeat Air Force in Season Opener

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Oct 16

6:00 PM

Volleyball

at Air Force

Oct 18

1:00 PM

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at Nevada

Oct 23

7:00 PM

Volleyball

vs Air Force

Oct 25

12:00 PM

Volleyball

vs Wyoming

Oct 30

6:00 PM

Volleyball

vs Fresno State

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – After a 14-month dry spell, the nets were up, the music was playing and the lights were back on in Moby Arena.

The long break didn't make Friday's volleyball season opener easy. Luckily, the team was facing the Air Force Falcons, an opponent the Rams maintained a 52-game winning streak against.

Even though Colorado State was voted No. 1 team in the Mountain West, the first set made it clear the gang had some work to do. The Falcons were making the Rams work for it, and the first match slipped through their fingers with a score of 25-23. It was the first loss the Rams had suffered to the Falcons on home turf, but it was the only loss the squad was willing to take in winning a four-set match, the final three sets at 25-17, 25-19, 25-11.

"It was a moment that we had to develop trust in each other," senior Breana Runnels said. "We had to push through and really put pressure on the other team. Obviously, we weren't expecting to lose the first set, but it's kinda humbling and we know what we need to work on."

The next three sets were cleaner and straight to the point. Perhaps the first set's loss was the wakeup call the players needed to succeed. Whatever the cause, the team found their groove and ran with it.

The night was made possible by a few shining stars on the court, including Runnels who accumulated 18 kills. She had help from junior Sasha Colombo and freshman Karina Leber, with 10 and 14 kills respectively.

"Breana stayed composed, she upped her game when we needed her," said coach Tom Hilbert. "She kept making swings, she kept her mistakes down, and that's who Breana Runnels is, that's who we need her to be. Every team is going to focus on her and she's gotta just be solid and not hurt us if they do put a good block up on us. If she gets an opportunity, she gets kills, and that's what she did tonight."

In addition to a prolonged break, the Rams lost five starters, meaning Hilbert was working with a fresh batch of players.

Leber was among one of the many new members of the team, and her debut win was a great way to start a career.

Not only did she have 14 kills, she did so with a fabulous .619 hitting percentage with just one error. She also added three blocks, with fellow freshman middle Naeemah Weathers leading the team with five.

"I actually wasn't as nervous as I thought I would be because we played scrimmages against ourselves and I was actually way more nervous for those, which was weird," Leber said. "I don't know, I think I had the confidence because the team has worked so well together in the past months in practice."

The season opener wasn't a bad place to start. The team hit. 289 on the night, and limited the Falcons to just a .139 clip as the Rams finished with 49 digs, led by 14 from libero Alexa Roumeliotis. Setter Ciera Zimmerman, replacing three-time conference Player of the Year Katie Oleksak, finished with 40 assists and three aces.

Hilbert knew going into this new season with a young roster wouldn't be easy. In fact, he was prepared to work from the bottom and keep his program at the top spot in the Mountain West. And the practice is paying off. Once the team got going, they didn't stop. And this performance by the team has Hilbert looking forward to what the rest of the season has to offer.

"I've been here a long time," Hilbert said. "When we lose five starters, I know it's going to be a rebuild and it's going to be extra work and it's going to require patience. I have to remember who we are. These young people are talented, but they're not going to play lights out every single night, and I just have to accept it and try to do the best we can every time we get on the court."

In 2019, the Rams had a perfect 18-0 record, meaning this new team has big shoes to fill. Hilbert is ready for the challenge; it'll just take some changes in coaching style. A younger team requires more explanation and patience.

"I think you have to be patient with them and explain everything assuming they do not know what you're talking about," Hilbert said. "You want to make sure that they know you believe in them and love them because they're going to make mistakes and that's just the way it is. You just keep on playing and trying to get better from it."

STAT OF THE MATCH
Karina Leber made her collegiate debut, flooring 14 kills, hitting .619 with just a single attacking error and added three blocks.

MATCH NOTES
- The Rams extended their winning streak 53 against the Falcons, dating back to 1995.
- Head Coach Tom Hilbert improves his Mountain West homer opener record to 24-0.
- Breana Runnels led the offense with 18 kills, while hitting .325 and dropping in three aces.
- Ciera Zimmerman paced the Rams with 40 assists, while adding a pair of kills, three aces and seven digs.
- Sasha Colombo reached double-figure kills with 10 and hit .556 to lead all attackers.
- Alexa Roumeliotis controlled the back row with 14 digs and was perfect on her 15 receptions.
- CSU recorded 10 blocks in the win, led by Naeemah Weathers with five.
- Head Coach Tom Hilbert has amassed 299 Mountain West wins, making him a victory shy of the 300 club – a group that just one coach in the conference has reached (Gordy Presnell, Boise State WBB).

UP NEXT
The Rams will face the Falcons on Saturday for game two of the series. First serve is at 7 p.m., MT on the Mountain West Network.

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