Colorado Christian vs. Fort Lewis
Friday, Nov. 5 | 6:00 p.m.
Durango, CO (Whalen Gym)

• The Cougars have won 12 of the last 13 matches in the series
• The all-time series is tied 6-6 for contests in Durango

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Colorado Christian vs. Western Colorado
Saturday, Nov. 6 | 6:00 p.m.
Lakewood, CO (Paul Wright Gym)

• Colorado Christian has won four of the last five in the all-time series
• Western Colorado has won five the eight matches played in Gunnison

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Week in Review

Colorado Christian played a pair of nationally ranked foes last week. The Cougars opened the week with a three-set loss at No. 1 MSU Denver on Thursday evening. It was the first-time in program history the Cougars played the country's top ranked team. Two days later Colorado Christian battled No. 24 Regis deep into four sets before coming out on the short end of the result.

RMAC Standings & Playoff Implications 

With the top eight teams making the league's postseason tournament, the Cougars are currently tied with Fort Lewis for the seventh spot. Just ahead of them is Fort Lewis at 7-7. Both Adams State and New Mexico Highlands are just below them with a 5-10 mark. (RMAC Standings).

A sweep of the weekend road matches would put Colorado Christian in a solid position to make the RMAC tournament heading into the final weekend of matches on Friday, Nov. 12 (CSU Pueblo) and Saturday, Nov. 13 (UCCS)

Road Trips vs. Home Sweet Home

During the season, the Cougars have played seven home matches and eight true road contests. There are some striking differences when the squad is the home team vs. when they play on the road
 

CATEGORY	HOME	ROAD
Hitting Percentage	.227	.183
Service Aces Per Set	1.96	1.14
Digs Per Set	12.50	13.52
Blocks Pet Set	2.38	1.62

Statistically Speaking

Top RMAC Team Rankings
Blocks Per Set: 6th - 1.98
Service Aces Per Set: 6th - 1.49
Team Hitting Percentage: 7th - .195
Kills Per Set: 10th - 11.61

Top RMAC Individual Rankings
Kills Per Set: Breanna Allen, 4th - 3.41
Digs Per Set: Madelyn Long, 5th - 4.10
Assists Per Set: Izzy Jones, 6th - 9.13
Blocks Per Set: Lilly Woods, 9th - 0.91
Service Aces Per Set: Mackenzie Close, 14th - 0.32

Double (Double) Your Pleasure

The Cougars have tallied a double-double on five 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)
Izzy Jones vs. Adams State (38 Assists, 14 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 11th 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. 

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).