Colorado Christian vs. Colorado School of Mines
Friday, Oct. 15 | 7:00 p.m.
Lakewood, CO (CCU Event Center)
- The Orediggers have won 30 of the last 40 matches between the schools
- The teams have split the last four matches
- Mines is 15-6 over the last 25 years at the CCU Event Center
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RMAC Network
Live Stats
Colorado Christian vs. Chadron State
Saturday, Oct. 16 | 5:00 p.m.
Lakewood, CO (CCU Event Center)
- Colorado Christian have won seven straight matches vs. the Eagles
- The Cougars have won 12 of the last 20 matches at home against Chadron State
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RMAC Network
Live Stats
Week in Review
Colorado Christian split a pair of three-set matches in South Dakota last weekend. The Cougars started the road swing with a setback at Black Hills State on Friday before knocking off South Dakota Mines the next day. After those matches, the Cougars head into this weekend with a 7-9 overall record and 4-4 mark in RMAC matches.
Allen's Continues Offensive Surge
In each of the last eight matches,
Breanna Allen has registered double figure kills. Ironically this matches up with the start of conference matches. During this time frame the senior is averaging 3.97 kills per set with a .293 hitting percentage from her outside hitter spot. He high mark came against UCCS (Sept. 25) with a 21-kill performance with a .436 hitting percentage.
Time to Separate
After this weekend, the Cougars will be more than halfway through their 18-match conference schedule. With a 4-4 RMAC record, Colorado Christian is tied with Western Colorado for the
sixth best record in the league. The top eight teams qualify for the season ending RMAC Tournament in the middle of November.
.200 is the Difference
In matches the Cougars hit .200 as a team they have posted a 6-1 record. Against Wisconsin Parkside, they hit .202 but fell in three sets. Conversely, when they hit less than .200 their record is 1-8. When the beat Lake Superior State they recorded a .197 team hitting percentage.
Statistically Speaking
As a team the Cougars ranked fifth in the RMAC with a .204 team hitting percentage. It is the highest they rank in the conference as a team in any category. They rank seventh in the RMAC with 1.90 blocks per set. Their 11.78 kills per set has them listed in the eighth best.
Individually Allen's 3.33 kills per set has her in the fourth spot for best average. Setter
Izzy Jones is averaging 9.18 assists per set; the fifth best mark among league competitors. From a defensive stand point,
Mackenzie Close and
Lilly Woods are both averaging 0.88 blocks per set which is tied for 13th. Along the back line,
Madelyn Long is 10th in the conference with 3.95 digs per set.
Glancing at the Top 25
In this weeks
AVCA National Poll, a pair of RMAC schools are ranked in the top 25. MSU Denver is currently ranked second in the country with Colorado School of Mines coming in at the fifth spot. Respectively they earned four and one first-place vote. Colorado Mesa and Regis are receiving votes in the poll.
RMAC Preseason Poll
The Cougars were picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll of the league's head coaches. Colorado Mesa were chosen as favorite in 2021 RMAC Volleyball Preseason Poll
2021 RMAC Volleyball Preseason Poll
1. Colorado Mesa (7) - 182
2. MSU Denver (3) - 174
3. Colorado School of Mines (3) - 172
4. Regis (1) - 156
5. CSU Pueblo - 144
6. Colorado Christian - 125
7. South Dakota Mines - 98
T8. UCCS - 93
T8. Western Colorado - 93
10. Black Hills State - 88
11. Fort Lewis - 87
12. Chadron State - 61
13. Westminster - 44
14. Adams State (1) - 43
15. New Mexico Highlands - 15
Head Coach - Bobby Blanken
The 2021 season will be
Bobby Blanken's fifth as Colorado Christian's Head Volleyball Coach. In his first year, Coach Blanken led the team to a conference record of 14-4 which landed a 4th place conference finish which allowed the program to host a RMAC Tournament match for the first time.
During his five seasons with the Cougars he has coached eight all-conference players as well as an all-region and All-American player in Sophia Proano.
Before Colorado Christian, Blanken served MSU Denver's head assistant coach since 2014. In his three-year stint at MSU Denver, Blanken helped lead a very successful program that went 18-0 in the RMAC in 2016.
Prior to coaching at MSU Denver, Blanken was the Head Women's Volleyball Coach at The Master's College in Santa Clarita, CA from 2010-2014. During his time at The Master's College, Blanken successfully built the program from a 7-22 first year record to a No. 6 NAIA finish in his final year. Blanken was named the 2012 AVCA West Region Coach of the Year and 2012 Golden State Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. At The Master's College, Blanken totaled a record of 87-56 (.608).
