PUEBLO, Colo. — Colorado State University Pueblo Volleyball is set to make its long-awaited home debut this weekend as the ThunderWolves open Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play inside Massari Arena. CSU Pueblo (4-4) kicks off the action Friday night at 6 p.m. against Regis University before returning to the court on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. to host Chadron State College.
The Pack enter conference play at .500 after navigating a competitive nonconference schedule that included tournaments at West Texas A&M and Lubbock Christian. In her first season at the helm, head coach and CSU Pueblo alum Jordan Bruere notched her first career victory in Canyon, Texas, with a sweep of Texas A&M International on Sept. 6. The following weekend in Lubbock, the ThunderWolves gained momentum, going 3-1 at the Chap Classic, highlighted by back-to-back sweeps to open play.
Leading the charge for the Pack is outside hitter Caelyn Gunn, a standout transfer who has made an immediate impact. Gunn currently ranks fifth in all of NCAA Division II in kills per set (4.63) while tallying 125 total kills with just 43 errors. Defensively, CSU Pueblo is anchored by senior leader Megan Mattingly, who has already racked up 120 digs on the season (4.44 per set), and Golden Finch, an All-RMAC selection a year ago, who leads the ThunderWolves at the net with 23 total blocks.
Friday's opponent, Regis University (0-8), will look to bounce back from a tough start to its season. The Rangers ended CSU Pueblo's 2024 campaign in the RMAC Tournament and are led offensively by Isabella Smith (45 kills, .132 hitting percentage). Defensively, Braziah Dixon has anchored the front line with 20 blocks. Regis is guided by veteran head coach Joel List, who enters his ninth season at the helm and 20th overall with the program.
On Saturday, CSU Pueblo turns its attention to Chadron State (3-5). The Eagles are led on offense by Mataya Ward, who has tallied 83 kills through the opening stretch of the season, while Shelby Hazlett has been a presence at the net with 19 blocks defensively.
The weekend marks a pivotal early stretch for the ThunderWolves, who look to defend their home court and establish themselves in RMAC play. Fans can catch both matches live inside Massari Arena as CSU Pueblo Volleyball officially begins its 2025 home slate.
