PUEBLO, Colo. (Oct. 10, 2026) – The Colorado State University Pueblo volleyball team put together a spirited performance Saturday evening inside Massari Arena, but ultimately came up just short against Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference rival Colorado Mesa University, falling in four tightly contested sets on Dig Pink Night.
The ThunderWolves (9-10, 4-4 RMAC) came out firing, taking the opening set 25-18 before the Mavericks (15-3, 7-1 RMAC) rallied to claim the next three sets by scores of 25-21, 26-24, and 25-23.
Despite the setback, the Pack battled throughout the evening, pushing one of the nation's top teams to the brink in a match that featured 27 ties and eight lead changes.
Saturday's contest also served as the ThunderWolves' annual Dig Pink Night, as CSU Pueblo donned its pink uniforms to raise awareness for breast cancer and show support for those affected by the disease.
Senior right side Lilly Zwart and Brianna Pino led the offensive charge for the ThunderWolves, each recording a team-high 16 kills. Zwart put together an impressive .333 hitting percentage on 36 attempts, while Pino finished with a .314 clip on 35 swings.
Finja Schul added nine kills while hitting .316 and was a force at the net, recording six block assists. Chinaru Pao anchored the defensive effort with a match-high 24 digs, while Kendall Schmitz dished out 23 assists and Madison Gardner contributed 15 assists and two service aces.
As a team, CSU Pueblo finished with 52 kills, 55 digs, and nine total blocks, holding an advantage over the Mavericks in the blocking department.
How It Happened
The ThunderWolves wasted little time establishing themselves in the opening set, using an efficient offensive attack and strong defensive presence to jump ahead of the Mavericks.
After the teams traded points early, CSU Pueblo began to create separation, building a 13-8 advantage behind kills from Schul and Pino. The Pack continued to apply pressure, eventually stretching its lead to 22-16 before closing out the opening frame with a convincing 25-18 victory.
CSU Pueblo hit an impressive .304 in the first set while limiting Colorado Mesa to a .182 hitting percentage.
The second set featured a back-and-forth battle, with neither team able to establish much separation through the opening stages. The two RMAC rivals were tied 15 times in the frame, including at 17-17, before the Mavericks used a late offensive surge to pull away.
Colorado Mesa claimed the second set 25-21 to even the match at one set apiece heading into the intermission.
Coming out of the break, the ThunderWolves responded with renewed energy in the third set, racing out to an early 3-0 advantage behind a Pino kill, a combined block from Schul and Emma Luce, and a service ace from Gardner.
The Pack continued to control the early portion of the frame, extending its lead to 10-6 before Colorado Mesa mounted a comeback.
Trailing 22-19 late in the set, CSU Pueblo refused to go away. The ThunderWolves fought off set point and rallied to tie the frame at 24-24 following a Pino kill and a Mavericks attack error.
However, Colorado Mesa managed to collect the final two points to escape with a narrow 26-24 victory and take a 2-1 advantage in the match.
With their backs against the wall, the ThunderWolves continued to battle in the fourth set.
The two teams traded momentum throughout the frame, with the Pack staying within striking distance of the Mavericks. Trailing 24-21 late, CSU Pueblo put together one final push as Pino delivered a kill before Schul and Schmitz combined for a block to bring the ThunderWolves within a single point at 24-23.
Colorado Mesa ultimately secured the final point on a kill from Kaitlyn Hall, closing out the set 25-23 and escaping Massari Arena with the four-set victory.
By the Numbers
Along with the offensive performances from Zwart and Pino, the ThunderWolves received contributions throughout the lineup.
Schul finished with 12 points, highlighted by her nine kills and six block assists, while Luce and Andi Nothdurft added three block assists apiece.
Defensively, Pao's 24 digs led all players, while Schmitz contributed eight digs and Lola King added six.
Colorado Mesa was paced by Molly Whalen, who recorded a match-high 15 kills, while Henley Madsen added 12 and Jaycee Windorski contributed 10.
The Mavericks finished the contest hitting .263 with 61 kills, compared to the ThunderWolves' .228 hitting percentage and 52 kills.
Up Next
The ThunderWolves will look to bounce back next Friday, Oct. 16, when they welcome the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) to Massari Arena as part of CSU Pueblo's Homecoming Weekend festivities.
The match will mark the beginning of another exciting weekend of ThunderWolves volleyball as the Pack returns to its home floor for another key RMAC showdown.
