GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (January 24, 2021)- Colorado State University Pueblo Volleyball started its 2021 spring season with a five-set upset of No.5 Regis University (24-26, 25-20, 18-25, 25-20, 15-11).
 
The Pack could not sweep the day however, dropping a four set final to Colorado Mesa University on the Mavericks home court (26-24,17-25, 27-29, 21-25).
 
Pack defeats No.5 Regis
 
The Pack put the Rangers on upset alert in the first set, but the Rangers took the first frame 26-24 thanks to back-to-back points. The Pack answered in the second stanza with a strong blocking performance that had the Rangers hitting -.026 for the set.
 
Regis won the third set to put the Pack's back against the wall. Facing defeat, the ThunderWolves dominated the final two sets. They outhit the Rangers .314 to .194 in the fourth set and .208 to -.048 in the fifth set. These performances allowed the Pack to pull off a historic win and their first win over a ranked team in over a decade.
 
Notes:
- CSU Pueblo beat Regis for the first time since 2007.
 
- The Pack out blocked the rangers 14-10
 
Individual Highlights:
- Maddy Wisniewski (Sr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.) knocked down a team-high 15 kills. Wisniewski had four kills in the final set. She hit .262 for the match.
 
- Grace Hern (Jr., Omaha, Neb.) achieved a double-double with 26 assists and 18 digs.
 
- Payton Stack (Sr., Casper, Wyo.) nearly had a double-double. Stack had 10 kills and nine blocks. Stack hit .500 in the win over the Rangers.
 
- Hannah Delor (Jr., Marysville, Mich.) earned her a double-double in her first game with the Pack. Delor totaled 11 kills and 11 digs while hitting .226. She led the Pack with two aces.
 
- Kyle Meltzer (Sr., Fort Collins, Colo.) picked up a double-double with assists and 10 digs.
 
- Bailey Combs (So., Fresno, Calif.) knocked down 10 kills and hit .231 in her Pack debut.
 
- Jessica Amend (Fr., Erie, Colo.) dished out 12 assists in her Pack debut.
 
-Elaine Thibadeau (Jr., Monument, Colo.) finished with 11 digs.

Coach Albers Quote:
It felt great to finally play a volleyball match and watch our team be dynamic in a competitive environment," CSU Pueblo Head Volleyball Coach Austin Albers said. "I felt like Payton Stack did a terrific job for us all day despite having to play out of position in the middle.
 
Mavericks outlast ThunderWolves
The Pack won the first set, thanks to a .333 hitting percentage. The tipping point came in the third set. The Pack led 27-26 and had a chance to take the frame, but the Mavericks scored three straight to take a 2-1 lead before closing out the Pack in the fifth set.
 
Individual Highlights:
- Jazzy Espinoza (Jr., Cheyenne, Wyo.) led the Pack's offense with 13 kills a .500 hitting percentage.
 
- Stack had nine kills and six blocks. She finished the days with 15 blocks, an average of 1.7 blocks per set.
 
- Hern handed out 25 assists. She added eight digs.
 
-Thibadeau picked up 15 digs.
 
- Delor delivered four aces in the match with the Mavericks
 
- Amend dished out 12 assists against the Mavericks.

Coach Albers Quote:
"I thought the team overall responded really well to making lineup changes," Albers said. "Whenever we had to make a switch and lean on someone else, that individual came in and gave us a lift. I believe that speaks volumes about our athletes mental engagement and the culture of being less concerned with who gets credit and just making sure we compete at our best."
 
Up Next:
The Pack will have a rematch against the Mavericks and also play Chadron State College in Chadron, Neb. On Saturday Feb. 6. The Pack will face the Eagles at 11 a.m. and battle the Mavericks at 2 p.m.
 
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