Oct. 10, 2004

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Pitch Black Madness at Moby Arena, featuring prizes, drawings, and giveaways, is scheduled Saturday night, Oct. 16 following Colorado State University's volleyball game with BYU.

Pitch Black Madness at Moby Arena, presented by Mountain Dew, provides fans a chance to join CSU's men's and women's baksetball teams as they begin preseason practice for the 2004-05 season.

The teams will open workouts Friday afternoon, then host Pitch BlackMadness Saturday.

Included in the activities - which are expected to begin about 9:30 p.m. - are several contests for university students and the public, including a slam-dunk and three-point shooting contest, respectively. Athletic department officials will also sponsor several prize giveaways during the 90-minute basketball session.

Colorado State's women's basketball team returns three of the team's top performers from a year ago, including forward Melissa Dennett, who averaged 1.5 points per game in 29 contests, and forward Lindsay Thomas, who averaged 12 points per game. Guard Vanessa Espinoza, a starter in 27 games in 2004, figures to be the team's floor leader after finishing 2004 with 84 assists.

Third-year coach Chris Denker's team opens play with the first of two exhibition games Nov. 5 against Western State College, the faces UC-Colorado Springs Nov. 13. Both games begin at 7 p.m. in Moby Arena. The Rams open the regular season Nov. 19, facing the University of San Francisco in Moby Arena at 8 p.m. following the Mountain West Conference Volleyball Championships semifinals. Highlighting the nonconference schedule is a Dec. 23 home game with three-time defending NCAA champion Connecticut.

Dale Layer, entering his fifth season as the men's coach, welcomes back seven-foot center Matt Nelson, the team's leading scorer in each of the past two seasons. Matt Williams, a six-foot, eight-inch senior forward, was second on the team behind Nelson in scoring and started 20games.

Colorado State opens the season with two exhibition games. The Rams face Northern State from Aberdeen, S.D., Nov. 6, then play host to Colorado State-Pueblo Nov. 11. The Rams open the regular season against Regis University in Moby Arena Nov. 20 at 7 p.m.

For season or individual game ticket information, call 491-RAMS, or toll-free, 1-800-491-RAMS. Tickets are also available online at CSURAMS.com, or by visiting any King Soopers or City Market grocery store located across the state of Colorado.