LAS CRUCES, N.M. — When Tom Hilbert went about setting up a tougher schedule for his team this season, BYU wasn’t originally part of the mix. But now the No. 9 Cougars represent the No. 14 Rams’ biggest victory of the season, taking down their former conference foes in four sets, 23-25, 25-23, 25-20, 28-26.
The win came on a neutral court in front of a light crowed as the Rams opened up the UTEP/New Mexico State Invitational, and it may have been the team’s most impressive showing so far this season. BYU wasn’t originally in the lineup, but filled in a gap when a team dropped out.
When sets drew tight, Colorado State rose to the occasion, especially in the fourth. Facing two set points, the Rams rallied off kills from Kelsey Snider and Marlee Reynolds to tie the match at 24. Tied again at 26, Reynolds put the Rams in front with a kill, then Dri Culbert and Acacia Andrews teamed to block a BYU attack for the game winner.
The Rams used the same formula later in the evening to beat the host Aggies on their home floor, 26-24, 28-26, 25-23, to improve to 8-1 on the season.
“I was very impressed. We always work on drills we call end game, and for us to stay competing and stay composed is very exciting,” Snider said after upsetting the Cougars. “This was very good. Usually nerves will come out and come into play, but I think we kept really composed. We just kept our side of the net composed and kept playing the way we know how and eventually it pulled out in our favor.”
Snider was one of four Rams with double-digit kills in the opener, finishing with 13. True freshman Jasmine Hanna led the team with 16, while fellow outside hitter Reynolds had 12. Dri Culbert tallied 10 and had a double-double with her 14 digs. Acacia had nine kills, five coming in the second set.
However, it the Rams’ setter who Hilbert felt stood out and made it all work.
“One of the big difference makers today was Deedra (Foss),” he said. “She’s just so much better than everybody else on the court. She’s making good decisions, she’s taking apart their block and she’s doing it so much you just think it’s old hat. She is very good.
“We played with much better tempo, and that was a big key. Everybody was getting set quick and it was all right on the money.”
Foss collected 55 assists in the match and her second kill of the night gave CSU a 26-25 lead in the fourth set. Jaime Colaizzi led the team with 16 digs (Cassidy Denny added 12) as Hilbert felt his team out-dug BYU and played cleaner.
Overall, the Rams hit .252 while BYU hit .275 in falling to 5-2.
The Cougars were the second top-10 team the Rams have played in a week, and after being swept by No. 4 Wisconsin on their home floor, this win represented a step forward for the Rams.
“I do, actually. Coming off Wisconsin, where I don’t necessarily played to our potential, knowing that we can play to our potential in the big matches … we stayed calm and composed,” Snider said. “This is a really good win. Just the way that we competed and we know we can hold our own with the big dogs.”
In the nightcap, the Rams stared down a scrappy New Mexico State team which wouldn’t bow down at home. Hanna and Reynolds both had 13 kills to lead the Rams, who hit .218 as Foss dished out 39 assists. Hilbert mixed up his lineup to try to keep his team fresh, with Alexandra Poletto producing five kills and three blocks after sitting out the opener.
“I feel lucky to just win. I think we were outplayed. We just hung in there and won the sets at the end by being better at the end,” Hilbert said of the second victory. “The tanks are empty. We were taking swings and not getting kills. We needed some offense, and I didn’t feel like Acacia was getting as high as she was earlier in the day.”
Colorado State closes the tournament today with a noon match at UTEP.
Contact Sports Editor Mike Brohard at 970-635-3633 or mbrohard@reporter-herald.com and twitter.com/mbrohard