FORT COLLINS – The Rams knew their name would be called, they just didn’t know when. Or where they would land.
The Colorado State volleyball team gathered at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop on Sunday to await its draw for the NCAA Tournament, still holding out hope it may get a chance to host. But the team that was ranked No. 9 in the country entering the week, waited until the very end of the ESPNU broadcast to find out it will play Cal State Northridge (23-6) in the first round Thursday in a pod hosted by No. 6 overall seed USC.
“I have no problem with that at all, to be quite honest,” CSU coach Tom Hilbert said. “I think SC is a good team, but again, we’re a good team and we’re efficient. We’ve played well on the road, and I don’t think that’s an overly intimidating place to play. I think it’s a good pod for us.”
It will pose a quick turnaround for the Rams (28-1), as they will play a Thursday match at 6 p.m. USC (26-5), which was ranked No. 1 earlier this year, will face New Hampshire (20-12) in the second match. The two winners will meet Friday at 8 p.m.
Hilbert said the team will practice Monday and Tuesday, then fly out to Los Angeles that night. Senior middle blocker Sam Peters feels the Rams are a team built for the sudden change of facing a team it knows little about.
“Honestly, I think it’s more rushed because of school and we’re getting ready for finals and all of that,” Peters said. “We are such a good prep team, and we always have been, so I think that puts our minds at ease a little bit and we’re more ready to go play them.”
Hilbert knows this much. Northridge is a good team that was ranked earlier this season, one that he also feels is somewhat similar to his squad. The Matadors have a couple of quality victories under their belts, something that Rams didn’t have this year and part of what cost them a chance to host.
The Rams have forged their path this year behind strong back-row play and a balanced offense that features five attackers with 200 or more kills.
“They’re a good, efficient team that isn’t overly athletic, but they’re going to be very good,” Hilbert said.
This will be the 19th consecutive appearance in the NCAA field for the Rams, an impressive feat for a team that began the year in a supposed rebuilding mode. They posted 27 straight wins to open the season before being upset at home by San Diego State on Wednesday. Friday, the Rams bounced back with a sweep of UNLV.
After winning the Mountain West title for a fifth consecutive year, Colorado State setter Deedra Foss said the team is excited to branch out and face different teams.
“I think it’s awesome playing teams that we haven’t face, because they don’t know us and we don’t know them,” she said. “It’s something different. It’s a different look for us.”
Last year, Colorado State was knocked out in the first round by Purdue. Hilbert said he feels his team is an unknown commodity heading into the draw, even to themselves.
For Peters, this is the perfect chance to open some eyes.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for us, maybe show people that we were underestimated,” the senior said. “We haven’t really had the chance to prove ourselves. It will be fun to get out there and see what else is against us.”
Mike Brohard can be reached at 635-3633, mbrohard@reporter-herald.com and @mbrohard
