Colorado Christian vs. No. 1 MSU Denver
Thursday, Oct. 28 | 7:00 p.m.
Denver, CO (Auraria Event Center)

• The Roadrunners have won nine straight in the match-up
• Colorado Christian is 5-34 all-time vs. MSU Denver
• The last time the Cougars won at MSU Denver was the 2013 season

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Colorado Christian vs. No. 24 Regis
Saturday, Oct. 30 | 5:00 p.m.
Lakewood, CO (CCU Event Center)

• Colorado Christian is looking to snap an eight-match losing streak vs. Regis
• The Cougars last beat Regis during the 2016 campaign

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Week in Review

The Cougars split their RMAC week for the sixth straight time. They opened their road swing with a five-set victory at New Mexico Highlands. After staving off a match point in the fifth set, the Cougars won the last three points of the contests. Less than 24 hours later, Adams State won the final two sets to secure a four-set victory in Alamosa.  

.200 is the Difference

In matches the Cougars hit .200 (or better) 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 2-10. They beat Lake Superior State recording a .197 team hitting percentage and posted a win against New Mexico Highlands (.190). Their collective hitting percentage in matches they are victorious is .256 but .138 in contests where they come out on the losing side. 

RMAC Standings & Playoff Implications 

With the top eight teams making the league's postseason tournament, the Cougars are currently tied with Western and Fort Lewis for the sixth spot. Lurking just outside is 5-7 Adams State. (RMAC Standings).

Statistically Speaking

As a team the Cougars are the sixth best blocking team in the conference. They are recording 1.99 blocks per set. They are rank sixth in the league in service aces (1.53 aces/set). The Cougars rank seventh in the RMAC with a .197 team hitting percentage. I

Individually Bre Allen's 3.33 kills per set has her in the seventh spot for best average. Setter Izzy Jones is averaging 9.20 assists per set; the fifth best mark among league competitors. From a defensive stand point, Woods is averaging 0.96 blocks per set which is the seventh best mark. Along the back line, Madelyn Long is fifth in the conference with 4.15 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)
Alli Douglass vs. New Mexico Highlands (17 Kills, 13 Digs)

Glancing at the Top 25

In this week's AVCA National Poll, a trio 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 12th spot. The Roadrunners are garnering 44 of a possible 47 first place votes. Regis checks-in this week at the No. 24 spot with Colorado Mesa receiving votes. 

• By hosting No. 24 Regis, it is the first time since the 2016 season that a top 25 team has visited the CCU Event Center. 
• The last time the Cougars beat a top 25 team was the 2019 season (Colorado School of Mines - W, 3-1)
• All-time vs. Top 25 teams, Colorado Christian is 1-10 vs. nationally ranked teams under head coach Bobby Blanken

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).