FORT COLLINS — Megan Plourde and Brieon Paige were both all-conference performers Tom Hilbert lost to graduation.
They also made up the best middle-blocking tandem in the Mountain West last season, and the Colorado State volleyball coach had to replace them.
He wasn’t worried.
In Sam Peters, he had a senior who had talent and was anxious to get her chance. In Kelsey Snider, he had the most athletic player on his team, one who was miscast as an outside in 2012 in an attempt to get her on the court.
And while Hilbert professed his confidence, it didn’t make the task any easier for the new duo.
“Meg being an All-American her junior year and both of them being just so incredibly consistent, those were some big shoes to fill,” Peters admitted.
But the new shoes fit just fine for the No. 9 Rams, who are sitting 19-0, one match shy of tying the program record for best start to a season as they embark on a three-game road swing starting Thursday at Boise State.
As settled as Hilbert felt the position would be, the tandem had a couple of surprises in store for him.
By the numbers, they’re actually outperforming the two players who departed.
They have combined for a .368 hitting percentage — with Peters leading the MW at .402 — that is better collectively than either Ploudre or Paige was individually. On top of that, they’re averaging more blocks per game as a duo, 2.51-2.50.
“They’ve improved significantly,” Hilbert said. “Sam was always good, but Kelsey, from a standpoint from her mechanics and how she thinks tactically, she’s gotten a lot better.”
The other surprise is that they have switched roles, Peters at the M1 spot he figured Snider would settle into as the preseason began.
Then again, it’s a good fit for Snider to be in the middle, period. She’s not only the most athletic Ram, but is explosive by nature. A middle in high school, Snider feels more at home there and uses her gifts and jumping ability to maximum potential.
“It really has. I really like the middle,” Snider said. “As an outside, you have to be very smart and you have to see different shots and you have to know what’s open. I feel like as a middle, the setter just sets it and you hit what’s open. It’s just quick, and you see it. That’s more of how I work, and the quickness is how I’m built.”
As a senior who had waited for her time for the chance to play, Peters is more than taking advantage of her shot.
“Personally, I’m really pleased with my consistency both hitting and blocking,” she said. “I’m glad I’ve improved throughout the year. I didn’t start off as strong as I wanted to, but I’ve been learning lots from (assistant coach) Matt (Botsford). Every team we play, I’ve found a new way to get better at blocking.”
That was the one element of their games where Hilbert knew they would need to improve. While Plourde averaged 1.53 blocks per set last year (down from 1.71 in 2011), that had more to do with her limited rotations to make the offense work better. Truth be told, she is one of he best blockers to ever wear the green and gold.
Peters is solid, but wanted to be better. Snider, who blocked from the pins as an outside hitter, had to rethink her game altogether.
“In the spring, I felt like I was just running around in circles,” Snider said. “Once you get used to it and once you understand the different patterns and you can start to read certain setters, it gets a lot easier.”
The improvement shows. They are one of two middle pairings in the Mountain West (Wyoming’s Erin Kirby and Reese Plante are the other) to rank in the top 10 in the conference in both blocking and hitting percentage.
Better yet, Hilbert’s lack of concern at the spot has been rewarded with better-than-expected results.
“They’ve really outplayed their expectations to me, because offensively they’re so good,” Hilbert said. “Sam is hitting .402. That’s better than either of them.”
Mike Brohard can be reached at 635-3633, mbrohard@reporter-herald.com and @mbrohard
