COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 12, 2026) – Three members of the Colorado State University Pueblo volleyball team earned postseason recognition from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), as the league announced its 2026 All-RMAC Volleyball Teams on Thursday afternoon.
Senior outside hitter Lilly Zwart (Nelson, New Zealand) highlighted the ThunderWolves' selections with First Team All-RMAC honors, while senior middle blocker Finja Schul (Bergisch Gladbach, Germany) was named Second Team All-RMAC. Senior libero Chinaru "Chi" Pao rounded out the Pack's honorees with an Honorable Mention All-RMAC selection.
The three seniors played instrumental roles for the ThunderWolves throughout the 2026 campaign, helping CSU Pueblo finish the season with a 12-15 overall record and a 6-8 mark in RMAC competition under head coach Jordan Bruere.
Zwart Earns First Team All-RMAC Recognition
Zwart earned First Team All-RMAC honors following an impressive senior campaign in which she led the ThunderWolves' offensive attack.
The Nelson, New Zealand native finished the season with a team-leading 332 kills, averaging 3.16 kills per set, while recording a .237 hitting percentage across 105 sets played. Zwart also finished with 65 total blocks, including 12 solo blocks, and a team-high 373.5 points.
A consistent offensive presence throughout the season, Zwart led CSU Pueblo in kills and points while establishing herself as one of the Pack's most reliable attacking options.
Her selection to the All-RMAC First Team represents the highest postseason recognition among CSU Pueblo's three honorees.
Schul Named Second Team All-RMAC
Schul earned Second Team All-RMAC recognition following a strong senior season in which she established herself as one of the ThunderWolves' top performers on both sides of the net.
The Bergisch Gladbach, Germany native finished the campaign with 214 kills, averaging 2.04 kills per set, while recording an impressive .286 hitting percentage, the highest among CSU Pueblo players with at least 100 kills.
Defensively, Schul was a force at the net, finishing with 117 total blocks, including 29 solo blocks and 88 block assists. Her 117 total blocks ranked tied for 17th nationally in NCAA Division II at the conclusion of the regular season. She also averaged 1.11 blocks per set and added 17 service aces and 304 points.
Schul's 29 solo blocks led the ThunderWolves, while her 117 total blocks ranked second on the team.
The senior previously earned Honorable Mention All-RMAC recognition in 2025, making this year's Second Team selection her second consecutive postseason conference honor.
Pao Collects Honorable Mention All-RMAC Honors
Pao rounded out CSU Pueblo's All-RMAC selections after earning Honorable Mention recognition following a standout senior campaign as the ThunderWolves' libero.
A consistent defensive presence throughout the season, Pao led the Pack with 455 digs, averaging 4.33 digs per set across all 105 sets played.
In addition to her defensive production, Pao finished second on the team with 96 assists and tied for the team lead with 18 service aces.
Her ability to anchor the back row and provide consistency in serve receive helped establish her as a key contributor to CSU Pueblo's defensive efforts throughout the 2026 campaign.
Three Seniors Recognized for the Pack
All three CSU Pueblo selections were seniors during the 2026 season, highlighting the experience and contributions of the ThunderWolves' veteran players.
The Pack concluded the season with a 12-15 overall record and 6-8 conference mark, recording 1,216 kills, 1,606 digs and 263 total blocks across 105 sets.
Colorado School of Mines' Jenna McLaughlin was named both RMAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, while teammate Kaiya Gilbert earned Setter of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors. Mines head coach Jamie Magalei was named RMAC Coach of the Year.
– THUNDERWOLVES –
