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Women's Volleyball Stephen Hinkel

Match Week Preview: Cougars Open Home Slate

Women's Volleyball Stephen Hinkel

Match Week Preview: Cougars Open Home Slate

Colorado Christian vs. Adams State
Tuesday, Sept. 14 | 7:00 p.m.
Lakewood, CO (CCU Event Center)
  • The Cougars have won seven straight in the all-time series
  • In the last 12 matches played at the CCU Event Center, each team ahs six wins
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RMAC Network
Live Stats

Colorado Christian vs. Western Colorado
Saturday, Sept. 18 | 5:00 p.m.
Lakewood, CO (CCU Event Center)
  • Colorado Christian has won three of the last four matches in the series
  • The Mountaineers hold a 8-6 edge for matches played in Lakewood
Follow Along:
RMAC Network
Live Stats

Looking Back at Last Weekend

The Cougars went 1-3 in their four matches at the Hampton Inn Invitational hosted by Parkside. It was the program's first ever trip to Wisconsin. Colorado Christian's victory came against Lake Superior State during Saturday mornings action. Colorado Christian also played Northern Sun Conference schools Minnesota Duluth (L, 3-0) and Minnesota State (L, 3-1). The Cougars stated the event by falling in three sets to the host Rangers.

Mackenzie Close had 18 kills during the event with 13 total blocks as she was named to the All Tournament team. 

Home Openers

During head coach's Bobby Blanken tenure, the Cougars are 3-1 in home openers. Over the last 10 seasons, Colorado has registered a 6-4 mark.

Young Squad

Coming into the season the Cougars knew they were going to rely on their youth. The first weekend of matches proved that case. Of the squads 183 kills, just over 61 percent of them came from a player competing in a Colorado Christian uniform in their first or second season. Moreover, all but 18 of the squads 167 assists (10.44 asst/set) came from a first-year Colorado Christian player. Along the back row, the team had 166 digs (10.38 digs/set). Only 32 came from a junior or senior on the team.

Feeling Good(man)

Libby Goodman began her Cougar career in fine fashion. Her 3.52 kills/set currently leads the RMAC. The North Alabama transfer played in 21 of the team's 30 sets and tallied a .225 hitting percentage from her outside position. She is currently second in the RMAC in kills. 

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).
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Players Mentioned

Mackenzie Close

#16 Mackenzie Close

MH
6' 1"
Sophomore
Libby Goodman

#9 Libby Goodman

OH
6' 1"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Mackenzie Close

#16 Mackenzie Close

6' 1"
Sophomore
MH
Libby Goodman

#9 Libby Goodman

6' 1"
Freshman
OH