Friday marked a day of firsts for Colorado Christian University Volleyball. In action on the opening day of their 2015 campaign, the new look Cougars surged ahead toward a new era with first year coach Andria Harshman. Sporting brand new uniforms, new systems, and plenty of new faces, the CCU squad played with new energy against a pair of tough and talented opponents in Midwestern State and Minnesota State Mankato. Though they couldn't pull off a sweep, the Cougars wrapped the day with a win and a loss, plenty to work on, and even more to be proud of.
 
"I am very pleased with our start today," commented Harshman after her team's 3-1 win over Midwestern State. "We played loose and did a great job controlling the match on our side of the net."
 
Christian came out with guns blazing in the day's first match, pouncing on MSU and not relinquishing their hold on the contest through the opening set. Thanks to a scorching .407 team attack clip, CCU made quick work of the Mustangs (25-12) to take the early lead. Though Midwestern responded with a 26-24 set-two win, an unphased Christian squad snatched momentum right back. Wins in sets three and four assured the Cougars a 1-0 start to the season.
 
"Our game plan was executed very well by both our setters (Kylee Wurster and Abby Bartalo)," Harshman continued. Indeed, Wurster and Bartalo found the hot hands, helping senior Taylor Sturms and freshman Hope Baldrica to .320 and .714 kill clips, respectively.
 
Things didn't go quite as well against Minnesota State Mankato, though CCU put up a fierce fight against the Mavs. Though Mankato won in four (25-23, 27-29, 25-22, 26-24), it was anybody's game from the first whistle to the last. When all was said and done, the Mavs had earned just five more points than their Colorado Christian counterparts.
 
Baldrica and Sophia Proano proved most efficient for the Cougars in the day's finale, hitting .385 and .429 from the middle. Sturms led CCU with a 17-kill, 17-dig effort. Sophomore libero Joelle LeFevre paced all Cougars with 21 digs.
 
"We were so excited to start off the season today," reflected Sturms at the end of the night. "We have been working hard in the preseason, and we knew we would face great competition. I am so thrilled about the chemistry our team has, and I think that is what is elevating us to the next level. We have a wonderful coaching staff, Coach Harshman's enthusiasm is contagious and it fosters confidence in us."
 
Another pair of matches await Colorado Christian on Saturday – they'll face nationally-ranked foes Cal State San Bernadino and Northwest Nazarene at the Oredigger Volleyball Classic in Golden.