Colorado State University Athletics
Thursday, November 2
Fort Collins, Colo.
7 PM MT
Colorado State
23-2, 13-0MW
3
vs
0
Utah State
13-12, 5-8MW
1
2
3
F
Utah State
16
18
14
0
Colorado State
25
25
25
3
Team Stats
USU
CSU
Kills
29
52
Errors
14
10
Attempts
93
104
Hitting %
.161
.404
Points
37.0
68.0
Assists
27
49
Aces
3
7
Blocks
5.0
9.0
Game Leaders
Kills
14
Aces
1
Blocks
1
Kills
13
Aces
3
Blocks
6
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH/OPP
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
DS
/ VolleyballPhoto by: Tomas Redondo
Recap: No. 20 Rams Sweep past Utah State, Remain Undefeated
11/2/2017 9:25:00 PM | Volleyball
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The No. 20 Colorado State volleyball team took care of business Thursday night against Utah State, recording its 10th sweep in Mountain West action and pushing its winning streak to 13 matches – remaining undefeated in conference play.
The Rams were led by Breana Runnels with 14 kills, while hitting very efficiently, recording just one error on 26 swings for a .500 hitting percentage. Kirstie Hillyer added 13 kills while also hitting at a .500 clip and Jasmine Hanna reached double-digit kills with 10 for the 18th time this season. Katie Oleksak dished out 45 assists in the sweep – most this season in a three-set match – while adding two aces. Hillyer led the defense with six blocks and also served tough, dropping in a season-high three aces. Amanda Young and Sanja Cizmic guided the back row tallying 17 and 10 digs, respectfully.
Colorado State did what they have done numerous times this season – get into a rhythm and score in runs; and that is what it did Thursday. The Rams took an early lead to start the match and did not look back, cruising to a 25-16 first set finish after using five different runs throughout the frame. The Aggies looked to try the same thing in the second set, leading early, but it would not last long. CSU kept to the game plan and charged back with a 4-0 run to gain a one-point lead. Utah State tied the set at 7-7 before 12-2 run gave the Rams a healthy lead through the end of the set. The third frame went quickly as Colorado State again manufactured a 9-1 run to double the Aggies at 12-6 before closing the match to record the sweep, 24-14.
Colorado State will stay in Moby Arena this weekend and welcome Boise State for a 1 p.m., match on Saturday afternoon.
IN THEIR WORDS…
Head Coach Tom Hilbert's opening statement…
"Offensively, we were really good and we were good in the first two sets. I was very pleased. We blocked the ball well in set one and we felt like we found a weakness in their row one. That was the difference in that set. We scored seven or eight points on row one. They made a change and ended up taking a small lead in set two, but we eventually ended up taking a huge lead. We came out in the third set and didn't make a lot of mistakes."
Hilbert on Katie Oleksak's exceptional performance…
"She was making great decisions. She had some tempo issues early, but ended up figuring those out. She moved the ball around a lot, so that everyone was seeing it and that is what I like to see. I want to keep everyone fresh and everyone mentally into every set. She did a great job."
Breana Runnels her powerful hitting tonight…
"I think we all just get riled up. Tom just kept telling me to be patient and keep swinging. We had a week to rest our bodies and I think that showed tonight in everyone."
Kirstie Hillyer on how the team was able to capitalize on the week of rest…
"I think it really helped. I think we had four games in seven days last week, so having that time off gave us the rest that we needed. We were able to come in on Monday and really practice hard and I think that made a difference."
The Rams were led by Breana Runnels with 14 kills, while hitting very efficiently, recording just one error on 26 swings for a .500 hitting percentage. Kirstie Hillyer added 13 kills while also hitting at a .500 clip and Jasmine Hanna reached double-digit kills with 10 for the 18th time this season. Katie Oleksak dished out 45 assists in the sweep – most this season in a three-set match – while adding two aces. Hillyer led the defense with six blocks and also served tough, dropping in a season-high three aces. Amanda Young and Sanja Cizmic guided the back row tallying 17 and 10 digs, respectfully.
Colorado State did what they have done numerous times this season – get into a rhythm and score in runs; and that is what it did Thursday. The Rams took an early lead to start the match and did not look back, cruising to a 25-16 first set finish after using five different runs throughout the frame. The Aggies looked to try the same thing in the second set, leading early, but it would not last long. CSU kept to the game plan and charged back with a 4-0 run to gain a one-point lead. Utah State tied the set at 7-7 before 12-2 run gave the Rams a healthy lead through the end of the set. The third frame went quickly as Colorado State again manufactured a 9-1 run to double the Aggies at 12-6 before closing the match to record the sweep, 24-14.
Colorado State will stay in Moby Arena this weekend and welcome Boise State for a 1 p.m., match on Saturday afternoon.
IN THEIR WORDS…
Head Coach Tom Hilbert's opening statement…
"Offensively, we were really good and we were good in the first two sets. I was very pleased. We blocked the ball well in set one and we felt like we found a weakness in their row one. That was the difference in that set. We scored seven or eight points on row one. They made a change and ended up taking a small lead in set two, but we eventually ended up taking a huge lead. We came out in the third set and didn't make a lot of mistakes."
Hilbert on Katie Oleksak's exceptional performance…
"She was making great decisions. She had some tempo issues early, but ended up figuring those out. She moved the ball around a lot, so that everyone was seeing it and that is what I like to see. I want to keep everyone fresh and everyone mentally into every set. She did a great job."
Breana Runnels her powerful hitting tonight…
"I think we all just get riled up. Tom just kept telling me to be patient and keep swinging. We had a week to rest our bodies and I think that showed tonight in everyone."
Kirstie Hillyer on how the team was able to capitalize on the week of rest…
"I think it really helped. I think we had four games in seven days last week, so having that time off gave us the rest that we needed. We were able to come in on Monday and really practice hard and I think that made a difference."
#PointRams
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