Middle Blockers Lead Rams to Border War Win

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LARAMIE, Wyo. – The Colorado State volleyball team remains atop the Mountain West thanks to a strong road win in the second installment of the Border War this season, winning 3-1 in the first meeting of the season. After dropping the first set, the Rams bounced back on the round to take the next three sets and head home with a 3-1 victory over Wyoming.

With both teams boasting a high efficiency offense, it was the up-tempo style of play and blocking presence of both Karina Leber and Naeemah Weathers that were key to the Rams' success Tuesday night. Both middle blockers totaled double-digit kills with Leber leading all players with 18 and Weathers totaling 12.

More impressively, both hit for double digit kills at over a .500 clip which acted key to the Rams' success.

Both Leber and Weathers set the tone for Colorado State. Despite dropping the first set, 26-24 in a tough road environment, it was the consistency that both veteran players brought to the front row that allowed the Rams to bounce back and persevere to a win.

Leber and Weathers combined for eight kills in the second set, assisted by their fellow fifth-year senior setter Emery Herman who led the Colorado State offense to hitting .257 in the second set and .294 overall on the night. Despite being out-blocked by the Cowgirls 4-0, the Ram defense, led by Kate Yoshimoto who totaled 15 digs on the night, kept the Rams in-system, therefore keeping the ball in the hot hands of Leber and Weathers more and more often throughout the night.

Colorado State tied the match at one all with a 25-21 second set victory.

Now with a breath of fresh air and a bit of momentum heading into the advantageous third set, the Rams were able to get some of their other offensive weapons going including opposite hitter Malaya Jones.

Jones totaled six kills alone in the third set to go into her 14 overall on the night. Hitting at a .456 clip, Jones' main strike came out of the backrow where she was able to take advantage of Wyoming rarely choosing to block backrow attacks in order to push towards a 25-19 third set victory for Colorado State.

In the fourth, both teams found themselves evenly matched across the box score. Both totaled two blocks, two service aces, two service errors and 33 total attack attempts, but the Rams' ability to hit at a higher efficiency and dig the Cowgirls better by comparison allowed Colorado State to fight to a 25-22 fourth set victory and an inevitable Border War win. The Rams finished the fourth set with five more kills and digs than the Cowgirls.

Finishing the night with the advantage in kills, attacking percentage, assists, digs, and serving percentage amounted into an all-around team win for the Rams to kickoff the final month of conference play.

Strong efforts were added to the team win from Kennedy Stanford, who totaled nine digs kills and nine digs, Maria Brun, who added six kills two service aces and Delaney McIntosh, who played the role as the second libero and serving specialist, totaling two service aces and five digs.

The Rams will continue their week with a trip to Boise, Idaho to face the Boise State Broncos Saturday at noon.

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