Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: Cris Tiller
Seniors Looking to Leave Their Mark
11/14/2019 12:04:00 PM | Volleyball
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The revelation started in a match against Boise State, towards the end of a five-set win October 17. At that point, the Colorado State volleyball team came together in a huddle.
Head coach Tom Hilbert had just made a lineup switch, one which placed all five of his graduating seniors on the court at once. In their final ride, they basked in the moment.
"We all had our hands together and Katie said, 'Look around,'" Olivia Nicholson said. "I'll never forget that moment, it was so special. So much maturity, so much trust and closeness on the court at one time."
The five, along with Alexa Roumeliotis and Breana Runnels, were finally given a chance to reflect before a set started. They were able to, in that moment, look back on the careers they'd built and the legacy they'll leave as Rams.
In program history, the five who shared the moment have the most starts of any lineup. Kirstie Hillyer has bypassed the 1000-kill mark; Katie Oleksak has won back-to-back Mountain West Player of the Year awards; Paulina Hougaard-Jensen led the nation for much of last year in hitting percentage; Jessica Jackson recovered from a career-threatening injury to regain her form alongside Runnels; and Nicholson played each and every position that Hilbert so lovingly asked her to fill.
They have two home matches left, barring an opportunity to host the first round of the NCAA Tournament. An imprint has already been formed, reshaped and placed in cement through the walls of Moby Arena.
"You look at players in each class as a sort of era," Hilbert said. "This group, as a collective, they've been great on the volleyball court. But they've also been amazing as ambassadors of the program off the court, as personalities and as people to represent CSU volleyball."
None of the five brought unneeded attention to the program through off-court troubles. They weren't responsible for stirring up drama amongst a team, a factor that can so often derail any roster.
They brought the best of themselves to the court, while bringing out the best in others, as well. Their names will litter the record books when their careers have ended. A shot at breaking the program's all-time win streak of 27 is possible with a perfect end to the year.
Driving the Rams to No. 12 in the nation, one of their highest marks in years, is a product of several years of preparation. Now that the finish line nears, the desire to look back has been constant since a text from Nicholson to start the week that read simply, "It's Senior Week, heads up."
"There are a ton of emotions right now," Oleksak said. "We keep thinking about that moment when we have to say bye. It's just such a great and amazing group of people, and we've grown up all four years together playing on the court."
The Rams' seniors were treated to the best Moby had to offer. Consistently top-10 nationwide in attendance, the program has reached new heights, even for the lofty standards laid by Hilbert.
As it stands, their season will end with home games Thursday and Saturday before heading out on the road once again. The next step is seeding announcements for the NCAA Tournament.
If they could have it their way, the Rams leaders would bring the action home.
"Just the support we get, we always want to play in Moby," Oleksak said. "Starting the NCAA Tournament playing in Moby would just be so much fun, and I know that the support would be there."
Nicholson added that the ability to host would affect the entire program, as well as it's notoriety on campus and off of it.
The five seniors, including Nicholson, have already changed the program plenty, whether they'll admit to it or not.
Head coach Tom Hilbert had just made a lineup switch, one which placed all five of his graduating seniors on the court at once. In their final ride, they basked in the moment.
"We all had our hands together and Katie said, 'Look around,'" Olivia Nicholson said. "I'll never forget that moment, it was so special. So much maturity, so much trust and closeness on the court at one time."
The five, along with Alexa Roumeliotis and Breana Runnels, were finally given a chance to reflect before a set started. They were able to, in that moment, look back on the careers they'd built and the legacy they'll leave as Rams.
In program history, the five who shared the moment have the most starts of any lineup. Kirstie Hillyer has bypassed the 1000-kill mark; Katie Oleksak has won back-to-back Mountain West Player of the Year awards; Paulina Hougaard-Jensen led the nation for much of last year in hitting percentage; Jessica Jackson recovered from a career-threatening injury to regain her form alongside Runnels; and Nicholson played each and every position that Hilbert so lovingly asked her to fill.
They have two home matches left, barring an opportunity to host the first round of the NCAA Tournament. An imprint has already been formed, reshaped and placed in cement through the walls of Moby Arena.
"You look at players in each class as a sort of era," Hilbert said. "This group, as a collective, they've been great on the volleyball court. But they've also been amazing as ambassadors of the program off the court, as personalities and as people to represent CSU volleyball."
None of the five brought unneeded attention to the program through off-court troubles. They weren't responsible for stirring up drama amongst a team, a factor that can so often derail any roster.
They brought the best of themselves to the court, while bringing out the best in others, as well. Their names will litter the record books when their careers have ended. A shot at breaking the program's all-time win streak of 27 is possible with a perfect end to the year.
Driving the Rams to No. 12 in the nation, one of their highest marks in years, is a product of several years of preparation. Now that the finish line nears, the desire to look back has been constant since a text from Nicholson to start the week that read simply, "It's Senior Week, heads up."
"There are a ton of emotions right now," Oleksak said. "We keep thinking about that moment when we have to say bye. It's just such a great and amazing group of people, and we've grown up all four years together playing on the court."
The Rams' seniors were treated to the best Moby had to offer. Consistently top-10 nationwide in attendance, the program has reached new heights, even for the lofty standards laid by Hilbert.
As it stands, their season will end with home games Thursday and Saturday before heading out on the road once again. The next step is seeding announcements for the NCAA Tournament.
If they could have it their way, the Rams leaders would bring the action home.
"Just the support we get, we always want to play in Moby," Oleksak said. "Starting the NCAA Tournament playing in Moby would just be so much fun, and I know that the support would be there."
Nicholson added that the ability to host would affect the entire program, as well as it's notoriety on campus and off of it.
The five seniors, including Nicholson, have already changed the program plenty, whether they'll admit to it or not.
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