PUEBLO, Colo. (March 26, 2021) – The Colorado State University Pueblo volleyball team closed the regular season with a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference home sweep (25-13, 25-13, 25-22) against Black Hills State University Sunday.
The ThunderWolves (11-3, 9-2 RMAC) hit .303 on the day, while holding the Yellow Jackets (5-9, 3-8 RMAC) to .115. The Pack totaled 11 aces, produced seven blocks and dished out 35 assists.
Prior to the match, the ThunderWolves celebrated senior
Grace Miles (OH, Parker, Colo.) for Senior Day. She got the start and recorded the first two points of the game with a kill and a block.
Some Pack Notes From the Regular Season
11-3 – Overall Record
9-2 – RMAC Record
6-0 - Home Record (dropped just one set)
3 – Victories against nationally-ranked opponents (Two victories against the No. 5 team)
8 - 3-0 Wins
Post Match Quotes
"It was great to see us come out and be level headed and controlled," said Head Coach
Austin Albers. "We came out those first two sets and rolled and looked excellent. That third set we broke down a little bit, but to be able to get out-hit and find ways at the serving line and blocking defensively to finish it out and make it happen in three was awesome."
"It's definitely been different than from past years, but I wouldn't change it for anything else because it has brought us closer together and that is how well we have been able to compete so well," Miles said. "I've taken on the challenge of being able to go in when I'm needed and helping out on the bench by bringing energy and being there for my teammates when they need me."
Individual Highlights
Jazzy Espinoza (Sr., Cheyenne, Wyo.) led the team with 14.5 points, as she totaled 10 kills with a .625 hitting percentage and added five block assists with two service aces.
Senior
Maddy Wisniewski (OH, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) led the team with 11 kills and added two block assists.
Junior
Hannah Delor (OH, Marysville, Mich.) chipped in on 12 points, as she added seven kills, produced four aces and got in on two blocks. She also had six digs.
Grace Jansen (So., South Jordan, Utah) totaled 18 assists, while
Grace Hern (Jr., Omaha, Neb.) dished out 15 assists and had four digs.
Junior
Elaine Thibadeau (Libero, Monument, Colo.) led the team with 12 digs.
Summary
After allowing the first point of the match, the Pack didn't trail the rest of the first set and jumped out to an early 11-3 lead. BHSU battled back to get within three at 11-8, but a 4-0 run put the ThunderWolves back in the comfortable position at 15-8. It was all CSU Pueblo the rest of the way in the 25-13 win.
The Pack led by just one at 5-4 early in the second set and were ahead by three at 11-8, but a 6-2 run gave the home team a commanding 17-10 lead, en route to the 25-13 set two victory.
Set three proved to be a battle, as the Yellow Jackets led the majority of the first half of the set and held a 15-11 lead. CSU Pueblo responded with a 5-0 run to hold a 16-15 advantage. The run saw kills from Delor, Wisniewski and Espinoza.
The road team scored to make it 16-16, but it wouldn't slow the ThunderWolves' momentum, as the Pack rattled off a 5-1 stretch to open up a 21-17 lead. BHSU got within one at 22-21, but the Pack were able to close out the set and the match, as a block by Espinoza and Delor made it 25-22 in the 3-0 sweep.
Up Next
The ThunderWolves will await the RMAC announcement this week of the bracket for the RMAC Tournament, scheduled for April 8-10 at the highest seed from the regular season .
-- PACK --
