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The Colorado State Rams volleyball team moved up from #18 two weeks ago to No. 12 by remaining one of only two undefeated teams in the country, along with the Missouri Tigers (currently No. 11). CSU (18-0, 9-0 MW) beat the then second place Fresno State Bulldogs (12-9, 6-3 MW) with a 3-0 sweep at Moby Arena in Fort Collins (25-20, 25-19, 25-23).
The 18-0 streak is the second best start in the volley program’s history and the 18 in a row is the fourth longest streak that the volleyball team has enjoyed. The 17 home-winning streak at Moby Arena is the programs fifth longest, which the Rams hope to extend against San Jose State this Saturday at 1:00 p.m. MT. The Rams need to keep the momentum going in order to stay ahead of UNLV (12-7, 7-2 MW), which is currently in second place.
With No. 8 Hawai’i’s loss to CSU Northridge on Thursday, this is a chance for the Rams to finally crack the top 10 in women’s volleyball. The Northridge Matadors (17-4, 7-1) beat the Rainbow Wahine 30-32, 28-26, 20-25, 25-22, 15-10 in Northridge, Calif., which could be just the chance the undefeated Rams need to move past the Big West Hawai’i team and move into a top ranked position. There have been some other losses in the top 10, including Michigan State losing 3 in a row to Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. Coach Tom Hilbert’s team has qualified for the NCAA tournament all 16 seasons he has been head volleyball coach. During this time, the Rams have gotten out of the first round 13/16 times and qualified for five sweet 16 appearances. The Rams are also on a win streak in the Mountain West, winning four straight MW championships every year since 2009 and looking for No. 5 this year.
CSU’s RPI is 21st as of the last NCAA poll on October 21st.
AVCA Division 1 Coaches Poll: October 21, 2013
|
Rank
|
School (First-Place Votes)
|
Total Points
|
2013 Record
|
Previous Rank
|
|
1
|
Texas (44)
|
1471
|
13-2
|
3
|
|
2
|
Penn State (12)
|
1440
|
16-2
|
4
|
|
3
|
Washington (4)
|
1383
|
15-1
|
6
|
|
4
|
Southern California
|
1300
|
17-2
|
1
|
|
5
|
Florida
|
1201
|
18-2
|
2
|
|
6
|
Stanford
|
1181
|
13-4
|
7
|
|
7
|
Minnesota
|
1129
|
18-3
|
10
|
|
8
|
Hawai'i
|
1090
|
16-2
|
9
|
|
9
|
San Diego
|
950
|
15-3
|
11
|
|
10
|
Michigan State
|
932
|
17-3
|
5
|
|
11
|
Missouri
|
860
|
23-0
|
18
|
|
12
|
Colorado State
|
831
|
17-0
|
12
|
Win/loss in the top 12 on Friday, October 25th:
Texas: 14-2, 7-0 Big 12
Penn State: 17-2, 8-1 B1G
Washington: 15-1, 6-1 PAC 12
USC: 17-2, 7-1 Pac 12
Florida: 18-2, 6-1 SEC
Stanford: 14-4, 5-3 PAC 12
Minnesota: 18-4, 5-3 B1G
Hawai’i: 16-3, 5-2 Big West
San Diego: 16-3, 8-2 West Coast
Michigan State: 17-4, 6-2 B1G
Missouri: 23-0, 7-0 SEC
Colorado State: 18-0, 9-0 Mountain West