Rams Advance At Mountain West Conference Volleyball Championship

CSU overcomes sluggish second game to defeat UNLV.

CSU's Catie Vagneur led the Rams with 14 kills and 17 digs. The Rams advance to face Utah.
Women's Volleyball Home HEADLINES MWC Volleyball Scoreboard - Nov. 24, 2009 Mountain West Conference Volleyball Press Release Week No. 14 2009 Mountain West All-Conference Volleyball Team Announced RELATED LINKS • Follow all of the college volleyball action at CollegeSports.com • Email this to a friend

Nov. 24, 1999

PROVO, Utah (Nov. 24, 1999) -- Led by a trio of All-Mountain West Conference players, second-seeded Colorado State advanced today to the semifinals of the Mountain West Conference Volleyball Championship at the Smith Fieldhouse in Provo, Utah by defeating seventh-seeded UNLV 3-1 (15-9, 3-15, 15-4, 15-9).

Angela Knopf and Catie Vagneur, both members of the first team, and second team member Courtney Cox all finished the match with double-doubles. Cox led all players with 16 kills while adding 10 digs. Vagneur ended the match with 14 kills and a match-high 17 digs while Knopf finished with 15 kills, 10 digs and seven blocks while hitting .480.

The Rams jumped on the Rebels by hitting .382 as a team in the first game and won 15-9. However, the Rebels, who were one of only two teams to beat Colorado State this season, kept the match close by holding the powerful Rams to -.125 hitting percentage in the second game to win it 15-3.

In the third and fourth games it was all Colorado State. Game two saw All Mountain West Conference Second Team setter Allison Peckham lead the Rams' offense to a .522 hitting percentage. Colorado State's defense held the Rebels to a -.067 and .000 hitting percentage in games three and four respectively. The tough Ram defense kept UNLV's Angie Sylvas, also a member of the Mountain West Conference Second Team, to a .044 hitting percentage.

Despite the tough defense, Sylvas finished with 11 kills and 10 digs. Jeanette Graves led the Rebels with 14 kills and five blocks while Alicia Erickson had 11 kills and a .412 hitting percentage.

The Rams will play Friday in the 4:30 p.m. semifinal match against Utah, who defeated San Diego State 3-2 earlier today. The tournament semifinals will be played on Friday and the championship final will take place 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Quote Sheet

UNLV coach Deitre Collins:
"I think pretty much this match went how our season went-we played well at times. We're a better team than we showed this year. Game two showed that."

"They played a very balanced attack. Their middles played very well. Game four Colorado State played as well as they can play."

"We did not have the mental strength this year to sustain a full match. Our future looks very bright (though). We have some young kids who are going to be very good."

Colo. St coach Tom Hilbert:
"I felt like tonight we played a good side-out volleyball game and good serving in game one. In game two our passing broke down and we didn't have any intensity or fire."

"UNLV is a very good team, better than coming in as a seventh seed in the tournament."

"Angela's (Knopf) hitting, blocking and serving were the difference tonight. Every time she touches the ball she makes something happen."

Angela Knopf, Middle Blocker, Colo. St:
"We came and played fired up with all of our cylinders. That's the strength of our team. We're a very close team and that makes the difference. We knew this would be a tough game for us, especially with them coming off a three-game winning streak."

Courtney Cox, Outside Hitter, Colo. St.:
(on playing with a sore right shoulder)

"I'll find a way. I always do."