DENVER, Colo. – With the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Tournament race beginning to heat up, the Colorado State University Pueblo volleyball team heads north to Denver this weekend for a pair of crucial non-conference regional pod matchups against two of the league's top programs in UCCS and defending NCAA Division II National Champion MSU Denver.
The ThunderWolves (9-12, 4-6 RMAC) enter the weekend looking to snap a three-match losing streak while gaining valuable momentum heading into the final stretch of the regular season. With the postseason picture beginning to take shape, the Pack currently finds itself in a three-way tie for ninth place in the RMAC standings, sitting just one game outside the eighth and final qualifying position for the conference tournament.
CSU Pueblo opens the weekend on Friday, Oct. 23, against UCCS (13-8, 8-2 RMAC) at 6 p.m., before returning to the court on Saturday, Oct. 24, to face MSU Denver (15-6, 9-1 RMAC) at 4 p.m. Both matches will be played on the campus of MSU Denver.
Although neither contest will count toward the RMAC standings, the weekend presents the ThunderWolves with an opportunity to strengthen their overall record and regional résumé against two programs currently sitting among the top four in the conference standings.
The Race for the RMAC Tournament
With the conference tournament quickly approaching, every remaining RMAC contest carries significant postseason implications for the ThunderWolves.
CSU Pueblo currently finds itself in a three-way tie for ninth place in the league standings alongside Western Colorado and Black Hills State, with all three programs sporting identical 4-6 conference records.
The trio sits just one game behind eighth-place Fort Lewis (5-5 RMAC), which currently occupies the final qualifying position for the eight-team RMAC Tournament.
Meanwhile, Adams State and Colorado Christian are tied for sixth place with identical 6-4 conference records, leaving the postseason picture far from settled as the regular season enters its final stretch.
Although this weekend's regional pod matches against UCCS and MSU Denver will not count toward the conference standings, the ThunderWolves will look to gain valuable momentum before returning to RMAC competition, where every remaining match will be critical in their pursuit of a postseason berth.
ThunderWolves Looking to Get Back on Track
CSU Pueblo enters the weekend having dropped its last three matches, including a pair of setbacks against UCCS and MSU Denver during last weekend's Homecoming festivities at Massari Arena.
The ThunderWolves opened last weekend with a four-set loss to UCCS on Friday, Oct. 16, before falling in straight sets to defending national champion MSU Denver the following evening.
Despite the recent struggles, the Pack has shown flashes of its potential throughout the season, including a three-set sweep of Westminster on Oct. 9 and an impressive five-set road victory over UCCS on Sept. 26.
Under second-year head coach Jordan Bruere, CSU Pueblo has continued to lean on its presence at the net, where the ThunderWolves have established themselves as a formidable blocking team.
Through 21 matches, the Pack has accumulated 202 total blocks, averaging 2.46 blocks per set. That figure provides CSU Pueblo with a statistical advantage over both of this weekend's opponents, as UCCS averages 2.12 blocks per set and MSU Denver averages 1.71.
Offensively, the ThunderWolves are averaging 11.40 kills per set while hitting .188 as a team. CSU Pueblo has also recorded 1,225 digs, averaging 14.94 per set.
Leading the offensive attack is senior outside hitter Lilly Zwart, who has emerged as the Pack's most productive offensive weapon. Zwart enters the weekend with a team-leading 253 kills, averaging 3.09 kills per set, while hitting .241. She has also contributed 53 total blocks and leads the ThunderWolves with 283.5 points.
Junior middle blocker Finja Schul continues to provide a significant presence on both sides of the net. Schul ranks second on the team with 244.5 points and has recorded 174 kills while boasting a team-best .298 hitting percentage among the Pack's primary attackers.
Defensively, Schul has been particularly impressive, leading the ThunderWolves with 95 total blocks, including 22 solo rejections, while averaging 1.16 blocks per set.
Joining Schul in the middle is Andi Nothdurft, who has recorded 89 total blocks, including 11 solo blocks, while averaging 1.09 blocks per set. Together, Schul and Nothdurft have been instrumental in establishing CSU Pueblo's defensive identity at the net.
On the outside, Brianna Pino has also provided a consistent offensive presence, ranking second on the team with 187 kills and averaging 2.40 kills per set.
The ThunderWolves have utilized a balanced setting attack, with Madison Gardner leading the team with 319 assists, averaging 4.76 per set, while Kendall Schmitz has contributed 284 assists and 4.24 assists per set. Gardner has also recorded a team-leading 17 service aces.
In the back row, senior libero Chinaru Pao has anchored the defensive effort, collecting a team-best 341 digs and averaging 4.16 digs per set. Pao has also added 76 assists and 13 service aces this season.
Scouting UCCS (13-8, 8-2 RMAC)
Friday's matchup against UCCS will mark the third meeting between the ThunderWolves and Mountain Lions this season, with the two programs having split their previous two encounters.
CSU Pueblo claimed the first meeting on Sept. 26 in Colorado Springs, overcoming a 2-1 set deficit to secure a thrilling five-set victory. After dropping the third set, the ThunderWolves responded with a 25-20 victory in the fourth before completing the comeback with a 15-13 win in the decisive fifth set.
The Mountain Lions answered in the rematch on Oct. 16 at Massari Arena, defeating CSU Pueblo in four sets by scores of 25-20, 25-21, 21-25 and 25-22.
UCCS enters Friday's contest sporting a 13-8 overall record and an 8-2 mark in RMAC play, placing the Mountain Lions in a three-way tie for second place alongside Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Mesa.
The Mountain Lions have dropped their last two contests, suffering a three-set conference setback at Colorado Christian on Oct. 17 before falling in straight sets to MSU Denver on Thursday evening in Denver.
Offensively, UCCS has been an efficient unit this season, averaging 12.82 kills per set while hitting .226 as a team.
Leading the Mountain Lions' attack is Payton Tompkins, who has accumulated a team-high 296 kills, averaging 3.75 kills per set. Tompkins is hitting .265 and leads UCCS with 340 points while also contributing 204 digs and 24 service aces.
Sydney Hyde has also been a key offensive contributor, totaling 173 kills while leading the Mountain Lions' regular attackers with a .304 hitting percentage. Hyde has added 76 blocks, averaging 0.96 per set.
Nicole Himebauch provides another threat at the net, recording 166 kills with a .285 hitting percentage while leading UCCS with 78 total blocks.
The Mountain Lions' offensive attack is directed by Aubrey Miller, who has registered a team-leading 433 assists, averaging 5.62 per set. Charlette Albers has added 210 assists, while Addison Humphrey has contributed 126.
Defensively, Alysse Marcoso leads UCCS with 288 digs, averaging 4.11 per set, while Sydni Lafasciano has collected 169 digs to complement her 147 kills.
As a team, UCCS averages 14.68 digs and 2.12 blocks per set while recording 1.48 service aces per frame.
For the ThunderWolves, Friday's contest provides an opportunity to secure the season-series advantage and respond to last weekend's loss on their home floor.
Scouting MSU Denver (15-6, 9-1 RMAC)
Saturday afternoon's contest will feature another familiar opponent, as CSU Pueblo squares off against defending NCAA Division II National Champion MSU Denver for the second consecutive weekend.
The Roadrunners enter the weekend with a 15-6 overall record and a conference-leading 9-1 RMAC mark, having won seven consecutive matches.
MSU Denver has been one of the league's hottest teams over the last several weeks, with its most recent victory coming Thursday evening in a three-set sweep of UCCS by scores of 25-22, 25-19 and 26-24.
The Roadrunners also defeated CSU Pueblo in straight sets on Oct. 17 at Massari Arena, claiming the contest by scores of 25-19, 26-24 and 25-11.
MSU Denver has showcased one of the conference's most productive offensive attacks this season, averaging 13.96 kills per set while hitting an impressive .247 as a team.
Leading the way is outside hitter Brooke Gennerman, who has recorded a team-high 299 kills, averaging 4.21 kills per set. Gennerman is hitting .281 and has also contributed 176 digs, 26 service aces and 332 points.
Hayden Liebsack has provided another significant offensive weapon, ranking second on the team with 202 kills and averaging 3.01 per set. Liebsack has also contributed 135 digs and 24 service aces.
Kamdyn Scott adds another 161 kills while hitting .233, while Mayah Pridgett has been one of MSU Denver's most efficient attackers, recording 128 kills with a team-best .322 hitting percentage.
Running the Roadrunners' offense is GabriElle Brewer, who has accumulated 675 assists and averages 9.25 assists per set. Brewer has also recorded a team-leading 31 service aces.
Defensively, libero Mia Accomazzo has anchored the back row with 300 digs, averaging 4.11 per set, while Gennerman and Liebsack have provided additional defensive support.
At the net, Trynity Martin leads MSU Denver with 60 total blocks, followed closely by Pridgett with 59 and Scott with 50.
As a team, the Roadrunners average 14.62 digs, 1.78 service aces and 1.71 blocks per set.
Despite MSU Denver's offensive production, CSU Pueblo enters Saturday's matchup holding an advantage in blocking, setting up an intriguing battle between the Roadrunners' high-powered attack and the ThunderWolves' defensive presence at the net.
Saturday's contest will also give the Pack an opportunity to earn a significant regional victory against the defending national champions.
A Crucial Weekend Ahead
With the RMAC postseason race beginning to take shape, the ThunderWolves will look to use this weekend's competition as a springboard into the remaining portion of the regular season.
Although the regional pod contests will not directly impact the conference standings, facing two of the RMAC's top programs offers the Pack an opportunity to measure itself against high-level competition and build momentum for the final stretch of conference play.
With CSU Pueblo tied for ninth place and sitting just one game outside the conference tournament field, the ThunderWolves know the importance of finding their stride as November approaches.
The Pack will begin its weekend Friday evening at 6 p.m. against UCCS before concluding regional pod action Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. against MSU Denver, with both matches taking place in Denver on the campus of MSU Denver.
