DENVER, Colo. – The Colorado State University Pueblo volleyball team showed resilience Saturday afternoon, battling back to take the third set before ultimately falling in four sets to defending NCAA Division II National Champion MSU Denver (14-25, 20-25, 25-21, 22-25) in a non-conference Regional Pod Match at the Auraria Event Center.
With the setback, the ThunderWolves fall to 10-13 overall, while MSU Denver improves to 16-6 on the season. The Roadrunners also complete the season sweep of the Pack, taking both meetings between the two programs during the 2026 campaign.
Despite a slower-than-expected start to the season, the defending national champions have found their stride as of late, returning to the form that carried them to the program's national title a season ago. The Roadrunners have taken control of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings, entering Saturday's contest with a league-best 9-1 conference record.
Despite dropping the opening two sets, the Pack refused to go away quietly, using a strong defensive effort at the net to capture the third set and extend the match against one of the region's top teams.
Senior Lilly Zwart paced the ThunderWolves offensively with a team-high 10 kills, while Finja Schul added nine kills on a .273 hitting percentage to go along with five total blocks.
Natalie Mobley turned in an efficient performance for the Pack, recording eight kills on 17 swings with just one attacking error for a team-best .412 hitting percentage. Mobley also contributed a match-high six total blocks, including one solo rejection and five block assists.
Brianna Pino chipped in eight kills, while Kendall Schmitz directed the ThunderWolves' offense with 31 assists, 11 digs and the team's lone service ace.
Defensively, Chinaru Pao anchored the back row with a match-high 20 digs, helping CSU Pueblo finish with 60 digs as a team.
The ThunderWolves also held an 11-10 advantage in total team blocks.
How It Happened
Set One: MSU Denver 25, CSU Pueblo 14
MSU Denver came out firing in the opening set, using an efficient offensive attack to quickly establish control.
After the teams traded points early, the Roadrunners built an 8-3 advantage before extending their lead to 12-4 behind a strong offensive stretch.
The ThunderWolves attempted to respond with kills from Zwart, Schul and Pino, but MSU Denver maintained its advantage throughout the frame.
The Roadrunners closed the opening set on a 5-0 run to secure the 25-14 victory, hitting an impressive .432 with 19 kills.
Set Two: MSU Denver 25, CSU Pueblo 20
CSU Pueblo started the second set with renewed energy, jumping ahead 3-1 before the Roadrunners answered with a 9-1 scoring run to take a 10-4 lead.
The Pack continued to battle, using a pair of MSU Denver attacking errors and a block from Andi Nothdurft and Mobley to trim the deficit to 15-13.
However, the Roadrunners responded to preserve their advantage, eventually pushing the lead to 23-18.
Kills from Schul and Pino kept CSU Pueblo within striking distance late, but MSU Denver closed out the frame, 25-20, to take a two-set advantage into the break.
Set Three: CSU Pueblo 25, MSU Denver 21
Facing a two-set deficit, the ThunderWolves delivered their best defensive performance of the afternoon to swing the momentum.
CSU Pueblo opened the set with three consecutive points, including kills from Zwart and Schul, before stretching its lead to 6-2 behind back-to-back blocks involving Mobley and Schul.
Although MSU Denver battled back to tie the frame at 7-7, the Pack remained composed, reclaiming its advantage and eventually building a 21-18 lead following a Zwart kill.
The Roadrunners mounted one final charge, leveling the score at 21-21, but CSU Pueblo answered with four consecutive points to close out the set.
A block involving Zwart and Schul gave the Pack a 22-21 advantage before another block by Mobley, a Schul kill and a final rejection from Mobley and Schul sealed the 25-21 victory.
The ThunderWolves recorded six team blocks in the third set alone, limiting the Roadrunners to a .104 hitting percentage.
Set Four: MSU Denver 25, CSU Pueblo 22
Looking to force a decisive fifth set, the ThunderWolves continued to battle in a competitive fourth frame.
MSU Denver jumped ahead 4-1, but CSU Pueblo gradually worked its way back into the set, using a Zwart kill to pull within one at 8-7.
The Pack eventually evened the score at 10-10, but the Roadrunners responded to regain control.
Trailing 19-13, CSU Pueblo refused to surrender, using kills from Zwart, Schul and Mobley, along with a Schmitz service ace, to cut into the deficit.
The ThunderWolves pulled within two points at 23-21 before a kill from MSU Denver's Kamdyn Scott brought the Roadrunners to match point.
Mobley answered with a kill to keep CSU Pueblo alive, but Hayden Liebsack delivered the final point to secure the 25-22 set victory and the four-set win.
By the Numbers
CSU Pueblo finished the afternoon with 38 kills, 36 assists, 60 digs and 11 total blocks while hitting .156 as a team.
MSU Denver recorded 67 kills on a .252 hitting percentage, led by Liebsack's match-high 21 kills and 16 digs. Kamdyn Scott added 17 kills, while Brooke Gennerman finished with 16 kills and 17 digs.
The Roadrunners also finished with 74 digs and six service aces.
Up Next
The ThunderWolves will quickly turn their attention back to Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action as they travel to Alamosa, Colo., for a crucial Tuesday night showdown against Adams State on Oct. 27.
With the race for a spot in the RMAC Tournament heating up, Tuesday's matchup represents a pivotal opportunity for the Pack to gain ground in the conference standings as the regular season enters its final stretch.
