Colorado State volleyball preparing for stretch run

A grounded plane might end up helping the CSU volleyball team in the long run.

After sweeping Fresno State on the road Thursday night, the Rams were scheduled to leave California on Friday morning.

Fog kept the plane grounded for several hours. By the time the team was able to return to Fort Collins, coach Tom Hilbert decided to cancel practice.

Without a match the rest of the weekend, the Rams got a rare three days in a row off late in the season. It was a helpful break; Hilbert said the team looked fatigued in a loss to UNLV earlier in the month.

The Rams have four out of their final five matches at Moby Arena, and the schedule seems to be falling in a way to allow CSU to be as fresh as possible when the NCAA tournament begins in early December.

“Getting three days off, we’ll see if it pays off at the end of the week,” Hilbert said. “You hope so. It enhances practices.”

The No. 9 Rams (24-2, 12-1 Mountain West) begin their final stretch at 7 p.m. Thursday when they host Air Force (12-16, 6-8), a team Hilbert claims is improved from years past.

“Air Force is pretty good. I keep telling people that and they look at me like it’s Peyton Manning playing the Raiders,” Hilbert said. “You don’t want them to get going.”

The Falcons’ previous high for MW wins in a season was five. Air Force is fifth in hitting percentage in the MW, and junior Akokwe Clement is fourth in the MW in kills. To threaten CSU, the Falcons will have to break a serious streak.

CSU has won 42 straight matches in the series, including 20 in a row in straight sets dating back to 2005. The Rams are first in the MW standingswith a two-game lead over UNLV.

After Air Force, the Rams host New Mexico at 1 p.m. Saturday.

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

• Next up: Air Force at No. 9 CSU, 7 p.m. Thursday

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