PUEBLO, Colo. (January 21, 2020) – After a schedule change, Colorado State University Pueblo Volleyball will open its season Sunday Jan. 24 with two matches in Grand Junction, Colo. The ThunderWolves will start their season at 1p.m. vs. No. 5 Regis University. CSU Pueblo will also face Colorado Mesa University Sunday at 4 p.m.
 
The Pack was originally schedule to open the season Sunday at home in matches. Vs. Black Hills State University and Western Colorado University. However, COVID complications have forced the Pack to open the season on the road at Brownson Arena in a pair of matches that will not count towards the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings.
Brownson Arena Attendance Policy
A limited number of fans will be admitted to Sunday's contests, but only under the following protocols.

• Tickets are only available to Student Athlete's Families (of all teams) & CMU Community (Faculty/Staff/Students).  All tickets must be purchased/reserved through www.cmumavericks.com/tickets in advance (no ticket sales at the door).
• All fans must be COVID-19 tested no more than 96 hours prior to the contests and must show proof of a negative test prior to being admitted into the contest.
• Guests who have tested positive in the previous 90 days and exhibit no symptoms must present evidence of the positive test in lieu of above testing requirement
• All fans must have a ticket & each ticket will be tied to a name, phone number, and email should contact tracing be necessary
• Masks must be worn at all times & fans must maintain social distancing when possible.

Pack Notes:
- The ThunderWolves finished the 2019 season 14-14 with an 11-7 record in RMAC play. The placed sixth in the RMAC and advanced to their first conference tournament since 2016.
- The Pack set a  new school record (rally scoring era)last season with a .198 hitting percentage. The ThunderWolves also finished the season with a school record 174 service aces.
- CSU Pueblo was picked to finish fifth in the RMAC according to the Conference's Preseason Coaches Poll. If the Pack takes fifth in the RMAC this season, it would be their highest finish since 2014.
- Jazzy Espinoza (Jr., Cheyennne, Wyo.) earned Honorable Mention All-RMAC honors last season and was named a Preseason Player to Watch in the RMAC.  She led the Pack and ranked third in the RMAC with 112 blocks in 2019, the sixth-highest single-season total in program history. Her 32 aces ranks as the fourth-highest effort by a Pack student-athlete.
-Maddy Wisniewski (Sr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.) also claimed Honorable Mention All-RMAC accolades last season. Wisniewski also earned Preseason Player To Watch honors. She set career highs with 201 kills, 2.07 kills per set, and 50 blocks
- Payton Stack (Sr., Casper, Wyo.) received Preseason Player To Watch honors from the RMAC. Stack accumulated 132 kills and 0.64 blocks per set in her first season with the Pack.
-Kyle Meltzer (Sr., Fort Collins, Colo.) returns after leading the Pack in digs last season with 3.92 digs per set. Meltzer ranked second on the Pack with 31 aces.
- Grace Hern (Jr., Omaha, Neb.) led the Pack with 4.99 assists per set last season. Hern had a career-high 529 assists last season. Grace Jansen (So., South Jordan, Utah) also returns at setter for the Pack after averaging 3.33 assists per set in 2019.
- Grace Miles (Sr., Parker, Colo.) returns for her senior season. Miles averaged 1.42 kills per set last season. Kasey Jahnke (So., Glendale, Ariz.) also returns for the Pack. Jahnke averaged 0.95 kills per set in limited action as a freshman.
- The Pack welcomes transfers Bailey Combs (Fresno, Calif.), Hannah Delor (Jr., Marysville, Mich.), and Elaine Thibadeau (Jr., Monument, Colo. ). Combs averaged 2.19 kills per set for the University Central Oklahoma last season. Delor earned Second Team All- Mountain East Conference honors at Urbana University last season. Thibadeau averaged 4.32 digs per set at Colby Community College in 2019. She played for Adams State University in 2018.
- Five freshmen join the Pack for 2020-21. Jessica Amend (Erie, Colo.) could see the floor at setter. Gabrielle Collins (Katy, Texas) looks to be a force at middle blocker. Kealey Marshall (Aurora, Colo.), and Megan Mattingly (Phoenix, Ariz.) add depth at defensive specialist for the Pack. Taylor Maguire (Lyons, Colo.) could provide an offensive spark at outside hitter.

Opponent Capsules
Regis                                                     
2019 Record: 29-5 (17-1 RMAC). The Rangers advanced to the NCAA D-II Final Four in 2019.
Series Record: Regis leads the all-time series 40-8. The Pack last beat the Rangers in 2007.
Last Meeting: The Rangers bested the Pack in five sets (15-25, 23-25, 25-16, 25-20, 11-15) at Massari Arena Oct. 4, 2019. The Pack was just one of three RMAC teams to push the Rangers to five sets last season.

Colorado Mesa
2019 Record: 17-10 (13-5 RMAC)
Series Record: The Mavericks lead the all-time series 58-18.
Last Meeting: The ThunderWolves upset the Mavericks in a five-set thriller last year at Massari Arena (21-25, 25-19, 25-18, 22-25, 15-9). The Pack had 19 blocks and hit .303 in that match. Wisniewski finished with 12 kills including five in the fifth set. She hit .440 for the match.
 
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