Colorado Springs / Denver, Colo. - The Colorado State University Pueblo volleyball team hits the road this weekend for two pivotal Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchups as the ThunderWolves aim to get back into the win column and strengthen their case as one of the league's top contenders. CSU Pueblo, now 13-5 overall and 7-1 in RMAC play, will travel to face the University of Colorado Colorado Springs tonight at 6:00 p.m. inside the Gallogly Events Center before taking on No. 12 nationally ranked MSU Denver on Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
The Pack enter the weekend looking to bounce back after suffering their first conference loss of the season last Saturday in a four-set battle at Colorado Mesa. The defeat snapped a nine-match winning streak, but the ThunderWolves remain firmly in the thick of the RMAC title race and have continued to establish themselves as one of the league's most complete teams.
The ThunderWolves are led by first-year head coach Jordan Bruere (3rd overall), a CSU Pueblo volleyball alum who has taken no time in turning her alma mater into a force of nature in the RMAC. Bruere, who returned to Pueblo after several a successful stint at Western Colorado, has reignited the Pack's competitive identity - combining disciplined defense, creative offense, and a unified locker room culture that has propelled the ThunderWolves to one of their best starts in program history.
Statistically, CSU Pueblo has been among the RMAC's best from top to bottom. The Pack currently rank second in the conference in hitting percentage (.264) and lead the league in blocks per set (2.78) while holding opponents to a conference-low .140 hitting percentage, the stingiest defensive mark in the RMAC. Their dominance at the net and consistency on serve-receive have made them a challenge for every opponent they've faced.
Offensively, senior outside hitter Caelyn Gunn has been a cornerstone for the ThunderWolves, tallying 276 kills (3.77 per set) and leading the team in total points while providing a reliable scoring option from both pins. In the middle, Golden Finch and Finja Schul have anchored the front line with 35 total blocks (1.25 & 1.17 per set) both leading the RMAC, while junior setter Elena Stankovic continues to orchestrate one of the conference's most efficient offenses with 290 assists (9.67 per set). Libero Megan Mattingly has been a defensive stalwart, averaging nearly four digs per set and leading the team with 23 service aces.
Friday's clash with UCCS promises to be a marquee matchup between two of the RMAC's hottest teams. The Mountain Lions (16-2, 7-1 RMAC) sit tied with CSU Pueblo in the standings and feature one of the most balanced lineups in the league. The Pack and Mountain Lions last met on September 30 in Pueblo, when CSU Pueblo rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win in five sets - handing UCCS its first loss of the season in a thrilling match that showcased the ThunderWolves' resilience and depth.
UCCS enters the rematch behind a well-rounded offense led by Payton Tompkins (3.51 kills/set) and setter Maylen Mitrovich (5.13 assists/set). At the helm is head coach Tara Hittle, who is in her fourth season leading the Mountain Lions. Hittle, hired in January 2022 as the ninth head coach in program history, has steadily elevated the UCCS program into a consistent RMAC contender. Her system emphasizes fast-paced transition play, aggressive serving, and defensive tenacity - a style that has defined the Mountain Lions' rise this year and made them a dangerous opponent every night.
Following Friday's rivalry showdown, CSU Pueblo faces perhaps its toughest test yet with a Saturday matchup against No. 12 MSU Denver, one of the premier programs in all of Division II volleyball. The Roadrunners (15-3, 7-1 RMAC) once again find themselves in national contention, backed by a deep roster and a history of success that few can match.
MSU Denver is guided by head coach Jenny Glenn, who has taken one of the most successful volleyball programs in Division II history to unprecedented heights during her nine years at the helm. Entering the 2025 season, Glenn has compiled an astounding 220-50 career record (.814), including a 139-9 mark in regular-season RMAC play (.939). Over the past five seasons, MSU Denver has gone 127-18 overall (.867) and 74-2 in the RMAC (.968), following a three-year stretch from 2020 through 2022 in which the Roadrunners went 73-8 overall (.901) and 47-1 in conference (.979). Both her overall and conference winning percentages are the best in program history, cementing Glenn's legacy as one of the nation's most successful coaches.
On the court, the Roadrunners are once again setting the standard for excellence, hitting .270 as a team - best in the RMAC, behind the offensive power of Annika Helf (3.46 kills/set) and Karyna Werley (2.39 kills/set), while setter GabriElle Brewer keeps the attack flowing with 5.79 assists per set. MSU Denver's efficiency, balance, and depth will test the ThunderWolves' ability to sustain their defensive pressure and stay poised in long rallies.
For CSU Pueblo, this weekend represents both a challenge and an opportunity—a chance to prove that the Pack belong among the RMAC and national elite.
The ThunderWolves will return home to Massari Arena on Nov. 8, a key stretch of RMAC play as the regular season enters its final month. With postseason positioning at stake and a growing sense of belief under Bruere's leadership, CSU Pueblo looks to continue building momentum toward what could be a special finish to the 2025 campaign.
