Volleyball home for Homecoming

The women’s volleyball team broke into the national rankings at

No. 25 this week after sweeping their first conference road series

in Utah last weekend against the University of Utah and Brigham

Young University.

“That’s the hardest road trip of the year,” said sophomore

outside hitter Tess Rogers. “We’re the team to beat now and have to

step up every aspect of the game.”

The Rams (11-4, 2-0 Mountain West) are back home this weekend

for match ups against UNLV and San Diego State at 7 p.m. on Friday

and Saturday respectively.

After three weeks on the road, the team is happy to be back

home.

“I’m so excited (to be home) after being gone for three weeks,”

said junior middle blocker Katie Jo Shirley. “I think we played

really well last weekend. Our team came in pretty prepared.”

An added bonus is being home for Homecoming weekend. Last year

the team was on the road during Homecoming festivities.

“It’s a good feeling to be here for Homecoming,” Rogers said.

“It’s a really good feeling to be back and I hope the fans come

out.”

CSU head coach Tom Hilbert said he hopes the home crowd support

continues.

“Being home is important to us,” Hilbert said. “I think we get a

lot of comfort from playing here. Our students are great and since

we’ve been gone I hope people are eager to come watch.”

UNLV (6-6, 0-1) was swept last weekend by San Diego State in

their first conference game. Senior outside hitter Leiana Oswald

leads the Rebels with 4.41 kills per game and has a .258 hitting

percentage.

Junior outside hitter Patricia Assuncao leads the team with 2.27

digs per game and 42 blocks, tied with Michelle Johnson for the

team lead.

As a team, UNLV is averaging 14.76 kills per game and is hitting

.223. On the road, the Rebels are 3-5 and the CSU has won the past

nine meetings between the two teams.

SDSU (9-6, 1-0) will play Wyoming on Friday before traveling to

Moby Arena. Senior middle blocker Aspen McPartland is averaging

3.73 kills per game and is hitting .351.

Senior middle blocker Megan Schauermann is hitting .287 and has

an average of 1.62 blocks per game.

The Aztecs are hitting .237 with 15.23 kills, 1.27 aces, 12.92

digs and 3.45 blocks per game as a team.

The Aztecs lead team series 14-11 and last year snapped CSU’s

eight-match winning against them.

“They’re both big and physical,” said Hilbert of UNLV and SDSU.

“We have to be much more serious (about the conference games). We

know enough about them to prepare enough, I think.”

The players are eager to face their next conference rivals.

“I think we’ll match up pretty good,” Rogers said. “I think our

athleticism will play a big roll this weekend.”