Colorado Christian vs. CSU Pueblo
Friday, Sept. 24 | 7:00 p.m.
Pueblo, CO (Massari Arena)

• The Cougars are 8-12 all-time against the Thunderwolves
• For matches played in Pueblo, each team has won four

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Colorado Christian vs. UCCS
Saturday, Sept. 25 | 5:00 p.m.
Colorado Springs, CO (Gallogly Event Center)

• UCCS has won 23 of the 33 all-time meetings
• The last Cougars win at UCCS came in 2012; UCCS has won six straight at home vs. Colorado Christian

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Looking Back at Last Week

The Cougars split a pair of home matches as they began RMAC play. They opened the quick home stand with a five-set loss to Adams State on Tuesday but rallied a few days later with a straight set win vs. Western. In the win against the Mountaineers, Colorado Christian recorded a .343 hitting percentage as a team which was their best offensive effort since the 2018 season. Moreover, the team didn't commit a hitting error in the third set.

RMAC Road Note

The Cougars last won their road opener during the 2017 season when they traveled to CSU Pueblo on swept the Thunderwolves. Colorado Christian completed that road swing to start conference with two wins as the followed that victory with another win the next night at New Mexico Highlands in three sets. 

Statistically Speaking

As a team the Cougars are right in the middle in the RMAC. Offensively they are hitting .192 as team with 412 total kills; ranking them eighth and ninth in the league respectively in those categories. Defensively, the Colorado Christian block has been solid during the early season as they have recorded 80 total blocks which ranks fifth in the league. 

Individually speaking Libby Goodman is fourth in the conference in kills (3.39/set) while Mackenzie Close's 1.15 blocks per set average ranked her fourth among RMAC players. 

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).