Colorado State University Athletics

Thursday, September 24
Fort Collins, CO
6:00 PM

Colorado State

vs

San Diego State

Week 5 Volleyball Match Week

Starting Seven: Rams Open Pac-12 Play with SDSU and Texas State

9/23/2026 3:01:00 PM | Volleyball

Rams are ready to start inaugural season in Pac-12

FORT COLLINS-  Colorado State volleyball opens its inaugural season in the Pac-12 with conference play Thursday at 6 p.m., inside Moby Arena against SDSU before traveling to Texas State on Saturday for an 11 a.m., matchup. The Rams look to carry their momentum into conference play after sweeping No. 17 Colorado in game two of the annual Battle for The Golden Spike last weekend. 

Starting Seven
  1. Rams will take on SDSU in Moby Arena on Thursday Night. The matchup is set for 6 p.m., September 24 and will mark the first conference game of the 2026 season and first in the new era of the Pac-12.
  2. Colorado State will head back on the road to San Marcos, Texas to take on Texas State on Saturday, September 26 at 11 a.m. mountain time.
  3. The Aztecs enter the week with a 5-5 record after falling to Arizona in their home opener last weekend. Senior Ella Schabort leads the team with 138 kills on the season after earning Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week. Texas State will look to bounce back after falling to both UTSA and Houston in five sets last week. 
  4. The Rams enter their first week of conference play receiving votes in the national AVCA Poll on top of being voted Pac-12 Pre-season No. 1 earlier this year. Kekua Richards adds to the momentum after earning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week. 
  5. The Rams opened the Battle for the Golden Spike falling to No. 17 Colorado in four sets on the road. Sofia Zabjek led Colorado State with a season-high 13 kills and five blocks. 
  6. Colorado State responded Friday night in front of a sold-out Moby Arena crowd sweeping No. 17 Colorado to reclaim the Golden Spike Trophy. Richards had a season high of nine total blocks during the match, contributing to her weekly award.
  7. The Rams sweep marked Colorado's first loss of the season and moved Colorado State to a 7-3 record heading into conference play. The Rams and Buffs battled through the first two sets before Colorado State took control in the third, closing the match with a 25-15 set victory. 
Wednesday, September 23
Monday, August 24
Friday, August 21
Thursday, August 06