Colorado Christian vs. Black Hills State
Friday, Oct. 8 | 7:00 p.m.
Spearfish, SD (Donald E. Young Center)

• Colorado Christian holds an 11-2 edge in the all-time series
• The Cougars have won three of the five matches played in Spearfish

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Colorado Christian vs. South Dakota Mines
Saturday, Oct. 9 | 5:00 p.m.
Lakewood, CO (CCU Event Center)

• Last season, the Hardrockers ended Colorado Christian eight match win streak in the series
• The Cougars are 3-0 against South Dakota Mines in Rapid City

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Week in Review

In their second home conference weekend of the season, the Cougars split matches with Westminster and Colorado Mesa. On Friday evening against the Griffins, Colorado Christian posted a convincing sweep with Bre Allen's 12 kills leading the way. The following afternoon, the Cougars won their first two sets against the Mavericks but ultimately fell in a five-set marathon contest. 

Allen's Offensive Prowess

Over the last six matches senior Bre Allen has recorded at least 12 kills in each match. In two of those matches (Adams State, UCCS), she has produced a 20-plus kill match. During this six match stretch she is averaging 4.45 kills per set while hitting .333.

Time to Separate 

The Cougars are six matches into their 18-match RMAC schedule. With a 3-3 record, Colorado Christian is tied with Western Colorado and Adams State for the sixth spot. With the top eight positions reaching the league's postseason tournament, the Cougars have a chance to separate from Black Hills (1-5) and South Dakota Mines (2-4). Colorado Christian has qualified for the RMAC postseason tournament in four of the last five seasons. 

Statistically Speaking

As a team the Cougars are hitting .200 as a team which is the sixth best mark in the RMAC while being ranked seventh with 2.00 blocks per set. It is the highest they rank in the conference in any team statistic. 

Libby Goodman is second in the RMAC in kills per set (3.43) with Allen's 3.13 average ranking her eighth. Izzy Jones has directed the offense to 8.96 assists per set which ranks her fifth. Defensively Lilly Woods (1.00 blocks/set) and MacKenzie Close (0.98) are sixth and eighth respectively in blocking with Madelyn Long's 3.85 digs per set placing her ninth in the league. 

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 tied for the sixth spot. Respectively they earned five 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).