Rams Host Fresno State and San Diego State

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Colorado State volleyball team will start round two of regular season Mountain West play as they host San Diego State Thursday night and Fresno State Saturday afternoon in Moby Arena. The Rams beat both the Aztecs and the Bulldogs just under three weeks ago on the road as the entire conference begins to circle back through the second round of opponents leading up the Mountain West Tournament in Fort Collins taking place November 23-25. Thursday's game versus the Aztecs will be the annual State Pride game as the Rams will be wearing uniforms inspired by the Colorado State flag.

Colorado State (15-6, 8-2 MW) vs. San Diego State (5-16, 3-7)
Moby Arena, Fort Collins, Colo.
Thursday, October 27, 2022 // 7:00 PM
Stream: MW Network / Evoca
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Colorado State vs. Fresno State (6-16, 0-10)
Moby Arena, Fort Collins, Colo.
Saturday, October 29, 2022 // 1:00 PM
Stream: MW Network / Evoca
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What You Need to Know

The Rams are coming off a split weekend of travel and victory as the team took their second conference loss of the season to the Boise State Broncos, 3-1, last Thursday at Moby Arena before traveling to Utah State Saturday to claim victory over the Aggies, 3-1.
While the Rams currently sit third in the Mountain West with an 8-2 record, there is no longer an undefeated team within the conference as UNLV beat San Jose State last weekend making both the Rebels and the Spartans 9-1 in conference play. Looking ahead at the second round of Mountain West play, the Rams are still in control of their own destiny when it comes to the pursuit of a regular season Mountain West championship. With second chances to play both UNLV and San Jose State, Colorado State will look to start their rematch season with two wins this weekend.
The Aztecs currently sit nineth in the Mountain West with wins over Nevada, Fresno State and Air Force while Fresno State remains winless in the Mountain West.

Series History

Last time out, Colorado State swept the Aztecs on the road with all three sets being competitive and close in score, but the Rams being able to close out well on all three sets. San Diego State's bottom-half of the conference record should not be taken for granted as the Aztecs matched the Rams in nearly every team stat category in their first matchup but were just unable to capitalize on a set win.
Earlier this season, the Rams played the Bulldogs in a Thursday night matchup where the game went to five sets, ultimately won by Colorado State. While the Rams outhit Fresno State, especially thanks to a 28-kill performance from Kennedy Stanford, Colorado State was out-served and out-blocked in its first matchup with the Bulldogs this season. Back on their home court, the Rams will look to take advantage of the quick turnaround and familiar opponent to close out the weekend with a win.
Both the Aztecs and the Bulldogs are approaching the second half of the season under the qualifying line for the Mountain West tournament and while the Rams come in above that line, being prepared to face teams playing with a little more on the line that the first matchup of the season may be something the Rams have to prepare for both physically and mentally.

Series vs. Aztecs: 47-17
Home vs. Aztecs: 21-6
Hilbert vs. Aztecs: 44-4

Series vs. Bulldogs: 20-11
Home vs. Bulldogs: 13-2
Hilbert vs. Bulldogs: 16-3

Match Notes Nuggets

Top performances from last weekend's split results include contributions from Naeemah Weathers, Kennedy Stanford, Karina Leber, Helena Perez, and Ciera Pritchard.
Weathers was the top hitter for the Rams in Thursday night's loss to the Broncos as she totaled 13 kills alongside her six blocking assists, hitting .650 from the front row.
Stanford finished with double-digit kills in both contests for the Rams as she had 11 versus Boise State and led the Rams with 16 kills against Utah State.
Leber was the third hitter to total double-digit kills for Colorado State against the Broncos as the junior finished the night with 11 kills and six blocks over Boise State.
Perez was the Rams defensive leader on the weekend as the junior had 11 digs in both matchups last weekend. She also added three aces from the service-line over the two games.
As a setter, Pritchard dished out 82 assists on the weekend, but it was the senior's blocking performance over Utah State that stuck out on the final box score as she totaled four solo blocks over the Aggies, a new career high.
Additionally, the Rams returned senior middle blocker Jacqi Van Liefde back from a finger injury Thursday night over the Broncos. Van Liefde injured her finger during week three of the season forcing her to miss all of the conference season leading up to the Boise State game. The fifth-year senior was welcomed back with a warm applause from the fans at Moby Arena as she checked in during the third set.

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