Colorado Christian at Oredigger Classic
Friday- Saturday, Sept. 3-4 
Golden, CO (Lockridge Arena)

• This is the Cougars first trip to the Oredigger Classic since the 2015 season
• Colorado Christian also competed in the four-match event in 2014

Follow Along:
Tournament Central
(Live Stream and Live Stats available for all matches. Links vary based on the court which teams are playing on)

Looking at the Opponents

The Cougars have a limited history against their four opponents at this weekend's event in Golden.

In Friday's matches, Colorado Christian has played Midwestern State just twice with each program claiming a victory. The last time they met, the Cougars won a four-set match at the Oredigger Classic in 2015. The evening match against Seattle Pacific is just the second all-time match between the private institutions with the Cougars winning the only match-up in 2016 with a three-set sweep.

The event's final day will see the Cougars play Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls. Colorado Christian has never played Sioux Falls while Southwest Minnesota State won a five-set contest in 2018 at the Colorado Premier Classic which was hosted by RMAC schools Regis and MSU Denver.

Friday, Sept. 3
vs. Midwestern State, 1:30 p.m.
vs. Seattle Pacific, 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 4
vs. Southwest Minnesota State, 11:30 a.m.
vs. Sioux Falls, 2:30 p.m.

Season Preview

A youthful squad has just three seniors and two juniors. However, the preseason practices have shown the squad's talent and ability.

Offensively the Cougars are developing solid play with Bre Allen, Elizabeth Goodman, Alli Douglass and Kylar Raymond contributing on the outside with Kristy Dick and Lilly Jones providing a spark in the middle.

The setter spot will be started by Izzy Jones. The first-year player has shown tremendous poise during the preseason to earn the starting nod. Along the backline expect the trio of Madelyn Long, Tarryn Debenedetto and Megan Piton to provide solid first passes.

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 2020 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 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.

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).