Colorado State University Athletics
Thursday, October 8
Fort Collins, CO
7:00 PM
Colorado State
12-3,5-0Pac-12
3
vs
0
Washington State
6-8,1-3Pac-12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington St. | 17 | 12 | 23 | 0 |
| Colorado St. | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Brun Takes Advantage of her Moment
10/8/2026 9:37:00 PM | Volleyball
Rams remain unbeaten in Pac with sweep of Cougars
The talk turned to learning lessons. The past week had tested Colorado State's volleyball team, even in winning a pair of key conference matches on the road, and Sofia Zabjek said the entire roster had to regroup and look within, find what they could do better to not have to go to the brink to claim victory.
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But she could have been talking about herself personally. She could have been talking about Maria Brun, too. Both of them shined in Thursday's sweep over Washington State (25-17, 25-12, 25-23) at Moby Arena. And each of them has a back story of having to overcome a hardship to be there in the moment.
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Brun was an all-conference performer for the Rams a season ago as one of the team's offensive threats. But for the most part this season, she's been a defensive specialist, a key in the backrow and the top ace producer for the squad. The addition of freshman Ella Stowell and her production had led to the move, coach Emily Kohan having to make the decision in the best interest of the team.
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Brun hasn't pouted, as her performance would suggest. An excellent passer, she's also been one of Stowell's biggest supporters. She's also kept herself ready in the times the youngster has struggled in a match.
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Last Saturday at Utah State, Brun moved back to the front row during the five-set win, producing 15 kills and more importantly hitting .415 doing so. She started against Washington State, hitting .400 with nine kills on 20 attacks, adding eight digs and an ace.
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It's not easy losing a spot, but it's been easy for her to accept her role in the best interest of the team's goals.
Â
"It's obviously been hard but talking with my family and talking with my teammates, it's helpful because I know that my work, whatever I am, it's gonna be good, and I'm gonna try to help the team however I can, in the best way I can," Brun said. "I'm working every day in practice really hard, so I think that makes me ready. Either way, I'm coming out from the bench.
Â
"And I think the adrenaline makes me be better, and how important volleyball is for me. That makes me feel good, and trying to be better every day, trying to go out there and trying to push it."
Â
She picked up kills from the pin, and she notched a couple from the back row, a part of the attack the Rams have used with more efficiency this season. She wasn't the only one, either. Halle Jameson struck from there as part of her seven-kill night, and so did Zabjek, who led the team with 12 kills on 25 attacks without an error, hitting at a .480 clip.
Â
It's the fourth time this season the opposite hitter has reached double digits, but the first time she's done so in back-to-back matches.
Â
She really feels like she's starting to get in the swing of things after a season which was cut short after two matches due to injury, then moving to a spot she wasn't recruited to play.
Â
"It's starting to feel good," she said. "I think it's taken me a bit to get used to things on the other side of the net but now I've kind of settled in."
Â
The match pitted a pair of top-five blocking team's nationally, with the Cougars entering a shade better than the Rams. Colorado State (12-3 overall, 5-0 in conference) outblocked its guests, 11-7, with Zabjek collecting four.
Â
She once was a middle, and her ability at the net is part of the reason she's been so valuable at the spot.
Â
"I think she's getting some valuable reps as that right-side attacker. Her physicality, we're watching it come out, and the way she blocks especially," Kohan said. "She's embraced this new role. She's one of the only pins in the top 10 of the Pac-12 (in blocking), and we have three players in the top 10 for blocks. That's pretty impressive that she's above one block per set as a pin.
Â
"For one, it's her physicality. Two, she has great eyes. She ends up in the right spot, and she sees the game really well."
Â
Washington State, playing without kill leader Mary Healy, hit just .098 on the night with three attackers posting negative numbers. The Rams rolled so efficiently in the second set, multiple reserves saw action to close out the set, leading to the team finishing with eight different players recording kills.
Â
The third set was tight, but CSU excelled at end game. Obviously, the Rams moved on from the prior week.
Â
"It is easier to take away things while you're still winning," Zabjek said. "But we went into practice to work on those things. We're going to try to improve even when we're winning."
Â
Just as Brun continued to work even if her role had changed. She may not have been swinging in matches, but her adept passing led to kills for others. She remained a force at the service line. And in practice, she fought to earn an opportunity should the need arise.
Â
That has been the past two matches, and she's cashed in both times.
Â
"I mean, it feels really good coming back and to go hit in the front row. That's what I love," Brun said. "And I love passing, too. So being able to do both things makes me feel proud of myself and go out there and be better every day."
Â
Â
But she could have been talking about herself personally. She could have been talking about Maria Brun, too. Both of them shined in Thursday's sweep over Washington State (25-17, 25-12, 25-23) at Moby Arena. And each of them has a back story of having to overcome a hardship to be there in the moment.
Â
Brun was an all-conference performer for the Rams a season ago as one of the team's offensive threats. But for the most part this season, she's been a defensive specialist, a key in the backrow and the top ace producer for the squad. The addition of freshman Ella Stowell and her production had led to the move, coach Emily Kohan having to make the decision in the best interest of the team.
Â
Brun hasn't pouted, as her performance would suggest. An excellent passer, she's also been one of Stowell's biggest supporters. She's also kept herself ready in the times the youngster has struggled in a match.
Â
Last Saturday at Utah State, Brun moved back to the front row during the five-set win, producing 15 kills and more importantly hitting .415 doing so. She started against Washington State, hitting .400 with nine kills on 20 attacks, adding eight digs and an ace.
Â
It's not easy losing a spot, but it's been easy for her to accept her role in the best interest of the team's goals.
Â
"It's obviously been hard but talking with my family and talking with my teammates, it's helpful because I know that my work, whatever I am, it's gonna be good, and I'm gonna try to help the team however I can, in the best way I can," Brun said. "I'm working every day in practice really hard, so I think that makes me ready. Either way, I'm coming out from the bench.
Â
"And I think the adrenaline makes me be better, and how important volleyball is for me. That makes me feel good, and trying to be better every day, trying to go out there and trying to push it."
Â
She picked up kills from the pin, and she notched a couple from the back row, a part of the attack the Rams have used with more efficiency this season. She wasn't the only one, either. Halle Jameson struck from there as part of her seven-kill night, and so did Zabjek, who led the team with 12 kills on 25 attacks without an error, hitting at a .480 clip.
Â
It's the fourth time this season the opposite hitter has reached double digits, but the first time she's done so in back-to-back matches.
Â
She really feels like she's starting to get in the swing of things after a season which was cut short after two matches due to injury, then moving to a spot she wasn't recruited to play.
Â
"It's starting to feel good," she said. "I think it's taken me a bit to get used to things on the other side of the net but now I've kind of settled in."
Â
The match pitted a pair of top-five blocking team's nationally, with the Cougars entering a shade better than the Rams. Colorado State (12-3 overall, 5-0 in conference) outblocked its guests, 11-7, with Zabjek collecting four.
Â
She once was a middle, and her ability at the net is part of the reason she's been so valuable at the spot.
Â
"I think she's getting some valuable reps as that right-side attacker. Her physicality, we're watching it come out, and the way she blocks especially," Kohan said. "She's embraced this new role. She's one of the only pins in the top 10 of the Pac-12 (in blocking), and we have three players in the top 10 for blocks. That's pretty impressive that she's above one block per set as a pin.
Â
"For one, it's her physicality. Two, she has great eyes. She ends up in the right spot, and she sees the game really well."
Â
Washington State, playing without kill leader Mary Healy, hit just .098 on the night with three attackers posting negative numbers. The Rams rolled so efficiently in the second set, multiple reserves saw action to close out the set, leading to the team finishing with eight different players recording kills.
Â
The third set was tight, but CSU excelled at end game. Obviously, the Rams moved on from the prior week.
Â
"It is easier to take away things while you're still winning," Zabjek said. "But we went into practice to work on those things. We're going to try to improve even when we're winning."
Â
Just as Brun continued to work even if her role had changed. She may not have been swinging in matches, but her adept passing led to kills for others. She remained a force at the service line. And in practice, she fought to earn an opportunity should the need arise.
Â
That has been the past two matches, and she's cashed in both times.
Â
"I mean, it feels really good coming back and to go hit in the front row. That's what I love," Brun said. "And I love passing, too. So being able to do both things makes me feel proud of myself and go out there and be better every day."
Â
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
PIN
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
WSU
CSU
Kills
30
43
Errors
20
12
Attempts
102
90
Hitting %
.098
.344
Points
40.0
57.0
Assists
29
42
Aces
3
3
Blocks
7
11
Game Leaders
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
9
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Friday, October 02
Wednesday, September 23
Monday, August 24
Friday, August 21