Colorado Christian vs. New Mexico Highlands
Friday, Oct. 22 | 7:00 p.m.
Las Vegas, NM (John Wilson Complex)

• The Cougars have won 11 straight matches vs. N.M. Highlands
• Colorado Christian is 6-3 as the road opponent against the Cowboys
• 15 straight sets in the series have gone the Cougars way

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Colorado Christian vs. Adams State
Saturday, Oct. 23 | 6:00 p.m.
Alamosa, CO (Plachy Hall)

• Earlier this season, the Grizzles battled to a five-set win in the RMAC opener for both teams
• Colorado Christian has won three straight vs. Adams State on the road
• Adams State leads the all-time series 13-10

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Week in Review

A pair of three set home matches resulted in a split for the Cougars. They started the weekend with a setback against then-No. 5 Colorado School of Mines on Friday evening. Colorado Christian rebounded with a convincing win against Chadron State late on Saturday afternoon. In the win against the Eagles, Colorado Christian posted a season high .369 hitting percentage. It was the program's best hitting mark since a late season match vs. Westminster in 2018 when they registered a .414 hitting percentage. 

.200 is the Difference

In matches the Cougars hit .200 as a team they have posted a 7-1 record. Against Wisconsin Parkside, they hit .202 but fell in three sets. Conversely, when they hit less than .200 their record is 1-9. They beat Lake Superior State recording a .197 team hitting percentage. Their collective hitting percentage in matches they are victorious is .266 but .151 in contests where they come out on the losing side. 

(Still) Time to Separate 

The Cougars are more than halfway through their 18-match conference schedule. With a 5-5 RMAC record, Colorado Christian is alone as the sixth place team. (League Standings). The Cougars are one game better than three teams tied at 4-6. The top eight teams qualify for the season ending RMAC Tournament in the middle of November. 

Statistically Speaking

As a team the Cougars ranked fifth in the RMAC with a .208 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 1.94 blocks per set. Their 11.71 kills per set has them listed in the 10th best. 

Individually Allen's 3.33 kills per set has her in the seventh spot for best average. Setter Izzy Jones is averaging 9.23 assists per set; the fifth best mark among league competitors. Lilly Woods offense has been steadily improving as she now ranks 15th in the RMAC in hitting percentage (.282). From a defensive stand point, Woods is averaging 0.98 blocks per set which is the sixth best mark. Along the back line, Madelyn Long is 10th in the conference with 3.94 digs per set. 

Double (Double) Your Pleasure

The Cougars have tallied a double-double on three occasions this season:

Bre Allen vs. Midwestern State (18 Kills, 11 Digs)
Bre Allen vs. Adams State (20 Kills, 11 Digs)
Izzy Jones vs. Adams State (45 Assists, 10 Digs)

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 first in the country with Colorado School of Mines coming in at the sixth spot. The Roadrunners are garnering 38 of a possible 47 first place votes. 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).