CSU VOLLEYBALL

Throwback to 2009 NCAA tournament action at Moby Arena

Kevin Lytle
kevinlytle@coloradoan.com

For the first time since 2009 the NCAA volleyball tournament is back at Moby Arena.

CSU is the No. 15 seed and will face the University of Denver at 6:30 p.m. Friday. The University of Northern Colorado and University of Colorado play at 4:30 p.m. Friday. Winners of each match play in the second round at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Before those matches begin, here's a look back at what happened in 2009.

The Rams played a tough match against Middle Tennessee State in the first round, eventually winning 3-2 (25-19, 16-25, 25-21, 17-25, 15-6).

Danielle Minch had 15 kills and the Rams hit .438 in the final set to earn the first-round win. Katelin Batten, now an assistant coach at DU, had a match-high 24 digs.

In the decisive fifth set the Rams raced to a 4-0 lead and were up 10-2 at one point, totally controlling the set in front of 2,588 fans at Moby Arena.

"A lot of people forget that we went five against Middle Tennessee. That was a great match," said Jesse Mahoney, who was an assistant on CSU's 2009 team and now the head coach at DU. "That was a special experience."

That earned Colorado State University a second-round match against No. 6 Washington.

The Rams dominated from the start and won 3-1 (25-16, 25-22, 21-25, 25-19).

Minch had 19 hills and hit .324 and Jacque Davisson had 13 as the Rams upset No. 6 Washington to earn a berth in the regional semifinals.

Dana Cranston had three service aces and Batten led the team with 18 digs in the win in front of 2,750 fans.

"I remember everything about it. That was probably the greatest moment of my college career, beating Washington to go to the Sweet 16," Batten said. "That was my last match in Moby. That was just an incredibly year. We weren't expected to go that far. I will never forget that match."

CSU would go on to lose 3-1 to Minnesota in Minneapolis in the regional semifinals. If CSU advances past the second round this weekend the Rams would again go to Minneapolis for the regional semifinals.

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