FORT COLLINS — When the deciding point hit the floor, it was in another state and Colorado State’s players were scattered here and there.
Fresno State’s loss at Utah State on Saturday night meant the Rams won the Mountain West volleyball title for a fifth-consecutive year — and sending them to the NCAA Tournament for a 19th straight year — but nobody really knew it right away.
“I was kind of surprised,” CSU setter Deedra Foss said. “Actually, my mom was the first one to text me, ‘you guys just won the Mountain West conference.’ It was kind of a shock to hear we won it on a night that we didn’t’ play, knowing that we still have four games left.”
After that, Foss said, text messages flew back and forth from teammate to teammate. Fun, but not like celebrating on the court.
But it doesn’t mean the No. 10 Rams still don’t have something to play for in the final two weeks. While last year that time was spent fighting to keep the crown, this time around, the team will have the goal of remaining undefeated.
Coach Tom Hilbert — who said this is the second time the Rams have won the title on a night off — thinks it gives the team an important goal to shoot for, but that it’s also unnecessary with this group.
“I absolutely think it does,” Hilbert said, his team 25-0. “But it’s funny, because we’re doing it in a year where this team doesn’t needs anything like that. It’s not like they’re going to relax. These guys have been consistent all year long, they come to play every night. I don’t think it will be any different.”
Colorado State didn’t move up in the polls, but it did jump a spot in the RPI rankings to No. 18. That standing will be important when bids are accepted and assigned to host in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
“If we go undefeated, it’s going to raise our chances of actually hosting,” said Foss, who was named the conference player of the week for the second time this season, the fifth time a Ram has won the award. “We moved up to 18 and there’s two weeks left, so if we can move up once every week, that would be awesome.”
So was her week in the Rams’ two victories.
Foss, who ranks eighth nationally in assists per set, averaged 12.71 per in the wins over New Mexico and Air Force, in addition to .86 aces, .86 blocks and 2.43 digs. The junior played a big role in turning around the second set with Air Force, serving up four aces in a 9-0 run, closing with five in the match.
Hilbert said Foss is managing the game as well as anybody in the conference, though he thinks his setter is the best of the bunch. For him, it’s the whole package, including her ability to serve, block and read defenses to make her hitters better.
Foss, who can’t remember ever having five aces in a match, credited her teammates with allowing her to shine.
“I think this has been a really awesome season, and I couldn’t do all this without my teammates,” Foss said. “We’re a really consistent team in how we play, which allows me to consistent in how I play. Honestly, it’s a team effort to get that award.”
Colorado State will be on the road twice this week, with matches against San Jose State (Thursday) and Fresno State (Saturday).
Mike Brohard can be reached at 635-3633, mbrohard@reporter-herald.com and @mbrohard
