Tough questions face Colorado State volleyball team

It is unlikely the CSU volleyball team will match its record-setting season of last year.

The Rams set a single-season wining percentage record in going 28-1 during the regular season before falling in the first round of the NCAA tournament, which was the team's 19th straight NCAA showing.

The Rams have to replace several key playersplus have updgraded their schedule, which includes facing two teams in the top 10 (No. 6 Wisconsin and No. 9 BYU).

The Rams, ranked No. 18 in the AVCA preseason poll, also face another ranked team in No. 25 Arizona State and three others receiving votes.

With that difficult schedule, most around the program understand it's unlikely CSU will have a repeat of last year.

"It's exciting. Last year we had a fun schedule because we won all the time, but to be able to say we're playing the best of the best almost every weekend is something not a lot of teams get to do," junior Dri Culbert said. "We might not win all of them, but we're preparing to go further in the NCAA. Every weekend there will be a different challenge."

Even though the Rams cruised to their fifth-straight Mountain West title last year, they were knocked out by Cal State Northridge in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Not only is CSU facing strong opponents throughout the non-conference schedule, it also has a stretch of eight matches through most of September away from home.

"There are five or six teams on this year's non-conference schedule that are better than every team we played last year," coach Tom Hilbert said.

Before attacking the schedule, CSU is trying to find its best lineup before its first match Aug. 30. That lineup will have to fill voids left by Sam Peters, Michelle Lawrence and Kaila Thomas.

Peters, the middle blocker who was named MW Player of the Year in 2013, has graduated. Lawrence, who averaged 2.89 kills per set as a freshman, transferred to be closer to her home in California. Thomas would have been a likely replacement but was forced to stop playing due to multiple concussions.

Hilbert said redshirt sophomore Acacia Andrews will get strong consideration to start at middle blocker alongside Kelsey Snider.

At outside hitter, Culbert is again showing her versatility. She was brought into the program as a setter and spent most of last season playing on the right side and worked in the spring and early in fall camp as an outside hitter.

There's one name Hilbert repeatedly brought up in his preseason press conference Monday: Jaliyah Bolden.

The redshirt freshman from Rowlett, Texas, is listed as a middle blocker but has also been training on the outside.

"I've never been an outside; I played right side in high school. I'm really excited to get a new position and learn that aspect of the game," Bolden said. "Sets in the middle are a lot faster. Going to the outside they're a lot higher and I have to wait. I have a short attention span and I have to learn to really be patient with the ball."

Hilbert said its likely Bolden will stay in the middle, but the versatility of players like her and Culbert are valuable for lineup flexibility.

The first week of practices has been about giving players the opportunity to showcase their skills before settling into rotations likely to be used once the season begins.

Then the real test starts.

"How do we approach a really difficult non-conference schedule knowing we can be a very good team and still struggle, and still take some losses?" Hilbert said. "How do you do that when you're coming off a season when your regular season record was 28-1? How do you face that and stay mature? Because it literally could happen. We could take losses and be a great team."

How the Rams answer those questions will determine just how good this team can be.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle at twitter.com/Kevin_Lytle and at facebook.com/KevinSLytle.

2014 CSU volleyball team

Ranking: No. 18 in preseason AVCA coaches poll.

Key returners: Libero Jaime Colaizzi, opposite/outside hitter Dri Culbert, setter Deedra Foss, middle blocker Kelsey Snider.

Key losses: Middle blocker Sam Peters (graduated), outside hitter Michelle Lawrence (transfer), outside hitter Kaila Thomas (medically disqualified, concussions).

Potential breakout players: Middle blocker Acacia Andrews, middle blocker/outside hitter Jaliyah Bolden, middle blocker Alexandra Poletto, outside hitter Sanja Cizmic.

First matches: 1 p.m. Aug. 30 vs. VCU at Moby Arena; 7:30 p.m. Aug. 30 vs. UC Santa Barbara at Moby Arena.

Other key matches: Sept. 6 vs. No. 6 Wisconsin at Moby Arena; Sept. 12 vs. No. 9 BYU at Las Cruces, New Mexico; Sept. 19 at No. 25 Arizona State; Oct. 4 vs. San Diego State at Moby Arena; Nov. 15 vs. New Mexico at Moby Arena.