Blocking and Hitting Efficiency Lead Rams Past Lobos

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at New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Colorado State volleyball team powered past New Mexico to move to 7-2 in conference play thanks to a strong blocking presence and high efficiency offense, led by its two middle blockers Naeemah Weathers and Karina Leber.

Finishing the game hitting a team .241 at a .414 kill percentage, Leber led the Rams with a .414 individual hitting percentage along with nine block assists on the night to match the 13 total team blocks. Weathers led the team with 16 kills hitting at a .355 percentage herself.

The story of the match for the Rams was capitalizing on their strength while also understanding the New Mexico team across the net who has now lost five straight games in four sets, able to take one set of each of the five previous Mountain West opponents, but not being able to carry the momentum into a win.

Colorado State got off to a strong start in the first set thanks to a 12-0 service run from Malaya Jones to give the Rams a 16-3 lead in the first set. Holding that lead through the first set, Colorado took a 25-17 first set victory with Weathers leading the way totaling four kills.

The second set was the frame that the Lobos were able to rebound in, fighting off two Colorado State set points to force extra points and inevitably taking the set 27-25. The Rams hit their lowest percentage of the night at .125 with only 15 digs defensively.

In the third, it was a Taylor Pagan service run along with the continuation of the Colorado State block that gave the advantage set to the Rams 25-19 while CSU totaled four blocks after recording six in the second set, including a solo block from Weathers. Limiting the Lobos to just a .071 hitting percentage while taking advantage of a 78% side out percentage the Rams where one set away from remaining a top the Mountain West conference with a win.

Jones totaled four kills in the third, primarily as a backrow attack option thanks to setter Emery Herman able to target her middle hitters so often and efficiently through the first three sets.

With its best blocking set of the match, CSU outwit the Lobos 25-19 again in the fourth frame with nine total blocks, an 85% side out percentage and a .278 hitting percentage. Leber led the Rams offensively in this set with five kills and three block assists.

The Colorado State defense outdug the Lobos in all but one set, contributing to its low opponent hitting percentage. While Herman added 44 assists, she also notched her 11^th double-double of the season with 12 digs. Libero Kate Yoshimoto led the defense in digs with 18 while helping with two assists on offense as well.

Colorado State remains tied for first in the Mountain West with Fresno State ahead of Saturday's homecoming matchup with Air Force who brings a 2-18 overall and 1-8 in conference play into Moby Arena. First serve is set for 11:30 a.m. followed by a Colorado State football game versus New Mexico at Canvas Stadium kicking off at 3 p.m.

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