Colorado State University Athletics
Mature Rams Ready for Tournament Pressure
11/27/2024 12:00:00 PM | Volleyball
Regular-season title carries no guarantees
Win and advance. Lose and bow out. Win the title, return to the NCAA Tournament. Lose, and the season – and in many instances – a career is completed.
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Simple as that. With five fifth-year seniors on the roster, Colorado State coach Emily Kohan isn't worried about how her team will handle the pressure of the Mountain West volleyball tournament this week in Las Vegas, Nev.
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"They know the gravity of the situation, especially the three who have been her the past five years. They understand the hard losses and what's at stake," said Kohan, who was named the conference's coach of the year. "They're a mature team. They've been in those situations, and we're playing really good volleyball most of all. I think they're ready and motivated to do what their whole reason to come back for their fifth years."
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The Rams enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed, which means absolutely nothing since the tournament was resurrected three years ago. In none of those tournament has the top seed played for the championship. In only two have the second seed played for the title. In fact, none of the top three seed have ever won the championship.
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In other words, Colorado State is playing against history.
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New year, new chance.
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"We have talked about playing under pressure all year long, that pressure is a privilege, and this is the highest pressure you get," senior outside Kennedy Stanford said. "You win or your done. It's one of those things where you have to lock in that one percent extra of knowing you don't get another guaranteed match. Every point matters even more."
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As she noted, the mindset for tournament play changes. What doesn't is the process which has put the Rams in their current position. By posting a 14-4 conference mark (18-10 overall), the Rams get the top spot and a first-round bye. When the tournament opens Wednesday at the Cox Pavilion, they will be spectators. On Friday (2 p.m. MT), they'll draw the winner of the Fresno State-San Diego State match.
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It is two teams the Rams have beaten during the season. They also represent two of the losses for Colorado State.
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At their best, they have been a complete team, leading the league in hitting percentage as well as opponent hitting percentage. Their all-conference middles, Karina Leber and Naeemah Weathers, are among the top four in hitting percentage, and Malaya Jones – the Mountain West Player of the Year – ranked 10th as an outside hitting .330. Naturally, she paced the league in kills with 326 while fellow all-conference selection Emery Herman led all setters by averaging 10.86 assists per set.
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So, the process, and their experience, are very much where the team draws comfort for what awaits.
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"I think the experience we collectively has as a team helps ease the anxiety as you go into these matches," Herman said. "Like, we've been here, and we've done that. I think we have a little chip on our shoulder from last year. Having a lot of us coming from last year in that last game to this year is also another motivator to keep pushing."
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A five-set loss to Fresno State in the title game last year still stings. It was a match where Jones recorded 34 kills in the loss. A contest where the team held multiple match points.
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Past experience counts, highs or lows alike. Motivation does as well.
Â
No matter who the Rams play in the draw, or how far they advance, the one constant they have under their control is themselves and how they perform. The other side of the net is just an opponent.
Â
"On any given night, it's probably said every time you drop the curtain, it doesn't matter who is on the other side. If we take care of our side, I think we're going to be OK," Kohan said. "There are some defensive strategies you have to execute. We've been so offensively weaponized this year, if we're clicking on our offensive cylinders, we're awfully tough to beat no matter who's on the other side."
Â
Â
Simple as that. With five fifth-year seniors on the roster, Colorado State coach Emily Kohan isn't worried about how her team will handle the pressure of the Mountain West volleyball tournament this week in Las Vegas, Nev.
Â
"They know the gravity of the situation, especially the three who have been her the past five years. They understand the hard losses and what's at stake," said Kohan, who was named the conference's coach of the year. "They're a mature team. They've been in those situations, and we're playing really good volleyball most of all. I think they're ready and motivated to do what their whole reason to come back for their fifth years."
Â
The Rams enter the tournament as the No. 1 seed, which means absolutely nothing since the tournament was resurrected three years ago. In none of those tournament has the top seed played for the championship. In only two have the second seed played for the title. In fact, none of the top three seed have ever won the championship.
Â
In other words, Colorado State is playing against history.
Â
New year, new chance.
Â
"We have talked about playing under pressure all year long, that pressure is a privilege, and this is the highest pressure you get," senior outside Kennedy Stanford said. "You win or your done. It's one of those things where you have to lock in that one percent extra of knowing you don't get another guaranteed match. Every point matters even more."
Â
As she noted, the mindset for tournament play changes. What doesn't is the process which has put the Rams in their current position. By posting a 14-4 conference mark (18-10 overall), the Rams get the top spot and a first-round bye. When the tournament opens Wednesday at the Cox Pavilion, they will be spectators. On Friday (2 p.m. MT), they'll draw the winner of the Fresno State-San Diego State match.
Â
It is two teams the Rams have beaten during the season. They also represent two of the losses for Colorado State.
Â
At their best, they have been a complete team, leading the league in hitting percentage as well as opponent hitting percentage. Their all-conference middles, Karina Leber and Naeemah Weathers, are among the top four in hitting percentage, and Malaya Jones – the Mountain West Player of the Year – ranked 10th as an outside hitting .330. Naturally, she paced the league in kills with 326 while fellow all-conference selection Emery Herman led all setters by averaging 10.86 assists per set.
Â
So, the process, and their experience, are very much where the team draws comfort for what awaits.
Â
"I think the experience we collectively has as a team helps ease the anxiety as you go into these matches," Herman said. "Like, we've been here, and we've done that. I think we have a little chip on our shoulder from last year. Having a lot of us coming from last year in that last game to this year is also another motivator to keep pushing."
Â
A five-set loss to Fresno State in the title game last year still stings. It was a match where Jones recorded 34 kills in the loss. A contest where the team held multiple match points.
Â
Past experience counts, highs or lows alike. Motivation does as well.
Â
No matter who the Rams play in the draw, or how far they advance, the one constant they have under their control is themselves and how they perform. The other side of the net is just an opponent.
Â
"On any given night, it's probably said every time you drop the curtain, it doesn't matter who is on the other side. If we take care of our side, I think we're going to be OK," Kohan said. "There are some defensive strategies you have to execute. We've been so offensively weaponized this year, if we're clicking on our offensive cylinders, we're awfully tough to beat no matter who's on the other side."
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Players Mentioned
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