Lytle: CSU volleyball schedule refreshingly exciting

The smile gave it away.

The CSU volleyball team faces one of the hardest schedules it has ever had this season.

Part of it was on purpose and part was by accident.

A couple late changes of teams in tournaments the Rams are playing moved the schedule from difficult to a gauntlet.

Hey Tom Hilbert, you’re happy about it, right?

“I’m not sure happy is the right word for it,” the Colorado State University coach said.

But there it was. A chuckle. A smile.

Hilbert is a fierce competitor and a schedule with two top 10 teams, another at No. 25 and three more receiving votes is exciting to him.

Yes, it will be extremely difficult to navigate for CSU, especially as they work some youngsters into the rotation during the nonconference schedule.

But Hilbert has a wildly refreshing attitude about it.

“It ended up being tougher than I really wanted, but what the hell?” Hilbert said.

Exactly.

The CSU football and men’s basketball teams have left fans yawning, but the volleyball team is different. The schedule is packed with must-watch matches and fans have a pick from a slate of great contests.

There’s a reason why Hilbert has such a loyal fan base. He rewards them.

The Rams open at 1 p.m. Aug. 30 with a home match against VCU, who was in the title match in the Atlantic 10 a year ago.

The next day the Rams face Marquette, a team receiving votes and one that made the second round of the NCAA tournament last year.

The marquee match is Sept. 6 when the Rams host last year’s national runners-up and preseason No. 6 Wisconsin.

No. 9 BYU was a late addition to a tournament at New Mexico State, and the Rams also play No. 25 Arizona State and a strong Pepperdine team in Tempe.

CSU is ranked No. 18 and is seeking its 20th straight NCAA tournament appearance, but it really wants more.

The Rams went 28-1 in the regular season a year ago only to get bounced in the first round.

CSU won’t have as good a record this year, but they’ll be much better prepared for the tournament.

It’s nice to see a schedule like this. Fans get their money’s worth, and no one’s time is wasted with glorified exhibitions.

“We’ve got to play good people,” Hilbert said. “It can’t hurt us.”

And that’s the point. CSU still will need to take care of business and win the Mountain West, but they’ll be well set up after this nonconference slate.

This team will take more losses than last year’s. But they’ll be more prepared for the postseason.

And that will leave Hilbert smiling.

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