Colorado Christian vs. Northwest Nazarene
Friday, Feb. 26 | 2:00 & 7:00 p.m.
Nampa, ID  (Johnson Sports Center) 

• This is the Cougars first trip to Northwest Nazarene
• Friday will be the third and fourth matches all-time between the schools
• The two teams are slated to meet in Lakewood in late March

Follow Along:
Northwest Nazarene Video
Live Stats

Looking to Get On Track

So far this season the Cougars have played three teams who are currently ranked in the AVCA Top 25 National Poll (Colo. School of Mines, Colo. Mesa and MSU Denver) as they are in search of their first victory of the season. 

Cougar Leaders

Junior newcomer Breanna Allen leads the teams offense attack as the transfer from Glendale Community College (AZ) is averaging 2.91 kills per set while posting a .235 hitting percentage. Another newcomer, Ali Douglass, is second of the team with a 2.22 kills per set average. Jacey Johnson and Jasa Scheierman each have totaled 25 kills through four matches.

Among the specialty positions, Christa Tucker is registering a team high 3.31 digs per set while Ryanne Ferro is second on the team in digs per set (2.09). Maddie Burns has directed the offense in all but one set this season and is tallying 8.92 assists per set.

RMAC Outlook

The Cougars were picked to finish eighth in the preseason poll of the league's head coaches. The senior duo of Maddie Burns and Jacey Johnson were selected as Players to Watch for the squad.  The coaches selected MSU Denver and Regis as the preseason co-favorites while Colorado School of Mines rounds out the top three.

Welcome to the Newcomers

The Cougars welcome six freshman and two transfers to the roster for the campaign. The "freshman team" includes Alli Douglass, Leielle Salinger, Megan Piton, Kylar Raymond, Madelyn Long and Mackenzie Close. The group could almost form their own team as they play all positions but setter. Transfer Ryanne Ferro and Breanna Allen also join the squad for their first seasons at the NCAA level. Ferro previously played at NAIA Dordt College as a defensively specialists while Allen was an outside hitter at Glendale Community College.

Head Coach - Bobby Blanken

The 2020 season will be Bobby Blanken's fourth 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 three seasons with the Cougars he has coached six all-conference players as well as an all-region and All-American player in Sophia Proano. 9248

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).