PUEBLO, Colo. (Nov. 5, 2026) – Win and they're in.
With its postseason hopes hanging in the balance, the Colorado State University Pueblo volleyball team enters the final weekend of the 2026 regular season controlling its own destiny in the race for a berth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Tournament.
The ThunderWolves (11-14, 5-7 RMAC) will conclude their regular-season schedule with two crucial road matches, beginning Friday, Nov. 6, against Western Colorado in Gunnison before traveling to Durango on Saturday, Nov. 7, for a potentially season-defining showdown against Fort Lewis.
CSU Pueblo currently sits in ninth place in the RMAC standings, just one game behind eighth-place Fort Lewis (13-11, 6-6 RMAC) for the final postseason position. Despite entering the weekend on the outside looking in, the path to the postseason is clear for the Pack: win both matches, and the ThunderWolves will punch their ticket to the RMAC Tournament.
The ThunderWolves can finish conference play with a 7-7 record by sweeping the weekend, securing a spot in the eight-team tournament field and extending their season beyond Saturday.
CSU Pueblo enters the weekend looking to build momentum following a three-set sweep of New Mexico Highlands last Saturday at Massari Arena on Senior Night. The Pack delivered one of its stronger offensive performances of the season, hitting .268 while limiting the Cowgirls to a .117 hitting percentage. CSU Pueblo also controlled the net defensively, finishing with nine total team blocks in the straight-set victory.
After advancing to both the RMAC Tournament and NCAA Division II Tournament in 2025, the ThunderWolves will look to return to the conference postseason for the second consecutive season.
ThunderWolves to Watch
Offensively, CSU Pueblo continues to be led by senior outside hitter Lilly Zwart, who has recorded a team-high 295 kills this season. Zwart is averaging 3.04 kills per set while hitting .238 and has also contributed 61 total blocks.
Joining Zwart in the ThunderWolves' offensive attack is Brianna Pino, who ranks second on the team with 234 kills and averages 2.52 kills per set. Sophomore middle blocker Finja Schul has also emerged as one of the Pack's most efficient offensive weapons, recording 200 kills while leading the team with a .294 hitting percentage.
At the net, Schul and senior Andi Nothdurft have anchored one of CSU Pueblo's biggest strengths this season. Schul leads the ThunderWolves with 109 total blocks, averaging 1.12 per set, while Nothdurft follows closely with 106 blocks and an average of 1.09 per set.
As a team, CSU Pueblo has recorded 242 total blocks, averaging 2.49 per set, while limiting its opponents to just 1.70 blocks per set. The ThunderWolves have also accumulated 1,111 kills and 1,464 digs through 25 matches this season.
Defensively, senior libero Chinaru Pao has been a consistent presence in the back row, leading the ThunderWolves with 420 digs and averaging 4.33 per set. Pao has also contributed 17 service aces and 89 assists.
Running the offense have been setters Kendall Schmitz and Madison Gardner, who have combined for 736 assists this season. Schmitz leads the team with 417 assists, while Gardner has added 319 assists and 17 service aces.
With the season on the line, CSU Pueblo will rely heavily on its veteran leadership and strong play at the net as it looks to secure two critical road victories.
Scouting Western Colorado
Western Colorado enters Friday's matchup with a 10-14 overall record and a 4-8 mark in RMAC play, sitting in 10th place in the conference standings, just one game behind CSU Pueblo.
Friday's matchup will also serve as a homecoming of sorts for CSU Pueblo head coach Jordan Bruere, who spent two seasons leading the Western Colorado volleyball program in 2023 and 2024 before returning to her alma mater to take over the ThunderWolves ahead of the 2025 season.
Bruere will not be the only familiar face returning to Gunnison, as seniors Kacee Garcia, Chinaru Pao and Grace Helzer all played under Bruere at Western Colorado before following their former head coach to CSU Pueblo. The trio has spent the past two seasons with the ThunderWolves, helping the Pack reach the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2025 while becoming important pieces of the program both on and off the court.
Friday's contest will mark an opportunity for Bruere and her former Western Colorado players to return to their old stomping grounds with far more than bragging rights at stake, as the ThunderWolves look to keep their postseason hopes alive heading into Saturday's regular-season finale at Fort Lewis.
Despite its struggles away from Gunnison, Western Colorado has been particularly difficult to beat on its home floor this season, boasting an impressive 8-3 record at home.
Offensively, Western Colorado is led by Maggie Legg, who has recorded a team-high 208 kills and averages 2.39 kills per set. Sierra Long has added 165 kills, averaging 2.58 per set, while Andrea Torres has contributed 136 kills and a team-leading 2.67 kills per set.
The Mountaineers also feature a strong presence at the net in Breanna Nohava, who leads the team with 80 total blocks and averages 1.08 blocks per set. Kyra Kidd follows with 58 blocks while contributing 104 kills offensively.
Setting duties have been shared between Olivia Moore and Anuhea Kaalele, who have recorded 400 and 387 assists, respectively. Defensively, Galatia Andrew leads Western Colorado with 365 digs, averaging 4.56 per set.
As a team, Western Colorado is hitting .186 on the season while averaging 12.11 kills, 15.44 digs and 2.00 blocks per set.
The Mountaineers enter Friday's matchup riding a three-match losing streak, including setbacks against Black Hills State, UCCS and MSU Denver. Western Colorado will look to defend its home court and play spoiler to the ThunderWolves' postseason aspirations.
First serve between CSU Pueblo and Western Colorado is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday in Gunnison.
Scouting Fort Lewis
Saturday's regular-season finale could carry significant postseason implications as CSU Pueblo travels to Durango to face Fort Lewis, which enters the weekend with a 13-11 overall record and a 6-6 mark in RMAC play.
The Skyhawks currently occupy the eighth and final RMAC Tournament position, holding a one-game advantage over the ThunderWolves entering the final weekend. Fort Lewis has been particularly strong at home this season, posting a 5-2 record in Durango.
Offensively, Fort Lewis is led by Alina Nunez, who has registered a team-high 314 kills and averages 3.45 kills per set while hitting .240. Jordan DeJesus ranks second on the team with 206 kills, averaging 2.64 per set, while Caroline Munson has added 190 kills and leads the Skyhawks with an impressive .310 hitting percentage.
Directing the Fort Lewis offense is Addie Garn, who has recorded 621 assists and averages 6.82 assists per set. Arianna Reyna has also contributed 263 assists.
Defensively, libero Alyx Daugherty has been a standout performer for the Skyhawks, recording 487 digs and averaging 5.35 per set. Daugherty also leads the team with 30 service aces. At the net, Ellie Ames leads Fort Lewis with 52 total blocks, followed by Munson with 50.
As a team, Fort Lewis is hitting .191 while averaging 12.58 kills, 16.36 digs and 1.26 blocks per set.
The Skyhawks enter the weekend coming off a thrilling five-set road victory over UCCS last Saturday, a win that helped Fort Lewis maintain its position inside the top eight of the RMAC standings.
Saturday's matchup will mark the second meeting between CSU Pueblo and Fort Lewis this season, with the Skyhawks having claimed a four-set victory over the ThunderWolves on Sept. 5 at Massari Arena in a nonconference contest. With that earlier meeting not counting toward the conference standings, Saturday's showdown will be the teams' first meeting in RMAC play this season.
For CSU Pueblo, Saturday presents an opportunity to avenge that early-season defeat and clinch a berth in the conference postseason, provided the ThunderWolves take care of business against Western Colorado on Friday.
First serve between CSU Pueblo and Fort Lewis is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Saturday in Durango.
RMAC Tournament Picture
With just two matches remaining in the regular season, the battle for the final RMAC Tournament positions remains unsettled.
Six teams have already secured postseason berths, with MSU Denver (11-1 RMAC), Colorado School of Mines (10-2), Colorado Mesa (10-2), UCCS (9-3), South Dakota Mines (8-4) and Colorado Christian (8-4) having clinched positions in the eight-team field.
Adams State currently occupies seventh place with a 7-5 conference record, followed by Fort Lewis in eighth at 6-6 and CSU Pueblo in ninth at 5-7. Western Colorado and Black Hills State sit just behind the ThunderWolves, tied for 10th place at 4-8.
Despite entering the weekend one game outside the postseason picture, CSU Pueblo controls its own destiny. Victories over Western Colorado on Friday and Fort Lewis on Saturday would move the ThunderWolves to 7-7 in conference play and clinch their place in the RMAC Tournament, regardless of the remaining conference results.
The ThunderWolves must first take care of business against a Western Colorado squad that has posted an impressive 8-3 record at home this season before turning their attention to Saturday's showdown with Fort Lewis in Durango.
For CSU Pueblo, there is no need to scoreboard watch or rely on help from elsewhere around the conference.
Two matches. Two wins. One postseason ticket.
The RMAC Tournament is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Nov. 10, with quarterfinal matches hosted by the higher-seeded teams. The semifinals and championship are scheduled for Nov. 13-14.
