Former Rams lead Denver into NCAA volleyball tournament
When the CSU volleyball team clinched a berth to this season’s NCAA tournament there was no special reaction from the players.
When the University of Denver secured its place, tears of joy streamed down players’ faces.
DU assistant Katelin Batten has seen both sides. As a player at Colorado State University from 2006-09 she made the tournament every year. With 20 consecutive appearances, making the tournament is an expectation in Fort Collins.
For DU, the automatic bid secured from the Summit League championship secured the school’s first appearance.
“It was pretty amazing. Seeing the reaction on our players’ faces was pretty incredible,” said Katelin Batten, DU’s assistant coach and a CSU player from 2006 to 2009. “It’s the first time we’ve been playing in December. It’s like we have new legs under us.”
It will be a homecoming of sorts in the first round of the NCAA tournament when DU faces the 29-2 Rams, the tournament’s 15th seed, 6:30 p.m. Friday at Moby Arena.
Not only is Batten an assistant, but the Pioneers (27-6) are led by Jesse Mahoney, who was an assistant under CSU coach Tom Hilbert for seven seasons. CSU assistant Brook Coulter spent four years (2007-10) as an assistant at DU.
Hilbert and Mahoney exchanged text messages last week about the possibility of being placed in the same sub-regional.
The other teams coming to Moby are the University of Northern Colorado and the University of Colorado, who play at 4:30 p.m. Friday. The first-round winners play at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
CSU and DU play each other regularly in the regular season, and the Rams won 3-0 in early September. But Hilbert, Mahoney, Batten and CSU players agree DU is a different team from earlier this season. The Pioneers are battle tested after facing three teams that earned seeds in the tournament.
And Mahoney had no problem putting pressure on the coach he still calls his mentor.
“We’re in a situation where everything that happens from here on out is going to be a lot of fun,” Mahoney said. “Colorado State’s in a situation where they have a lot of expectations on them. They’re looking to make the Sweet 16 and try and take that next step. This is the next step for us and we’re going to make the most of our opportunity.”
The Rams are looking to advance past the first round for the first time since 2011 and make the Sweet 16 for the first time since Batten and the Rams did it in 2009.
Hilbert says DU is fast-paced. The Pioneers hit .267 as a team, and have won six straight matches and eight of its last nine.
“(Playing DU) raises the stakes,” said Jaime Colaizzi, CSU’s libero and a Windsor High School graduate. “There’s some pressure to win this first round. I almost think it’s better for us because we know how big a game this is going to be. All of us are ready to get out of the first round.”
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle at twitter.com/Kevin_Lytle and at facebook.com/KevinSLytle.
Bios of NCAA tournament teams at Moby
CSU (No. 15 seed and host)
Record: 29-2, earned automatic bid as Mountain West champion
NCAA tournament history: 20th consecutive season in tournament and 26th overall…Have reached the regional semifinals (Sweet 16) nine times, most recently in 2009 (the last time CSU hosted a sub-regional).
University of Denver
Record: 27-6, earned automatic bid as Summit League champion
NCAA tournament history: First appearance in school history.
University of Northern Colorado
Record: 22-10, earned automatic bid as Big Sky Conference champion
NCAA tournament history: Fourth appearance, all in last six seasons.
University of Colorado
Record: 19-13, earned at-large bid after finishing tied for fourth in the Pac12
NCAA tournament history: 18th tournament appearance and second in a row.
NCAA tournament schedule
• Friday (first round): Northern Colorado vs. Colorado, 4:30 p.m.
• Friday (first round): University of Denver vs. CSU, 6:30 p.m.
• Saturday (second round): Friday’s winners, 4:30 p.m.
• Tickets: $20 reserved all-session, $15 for general admission all-session, $15 for single-match (available only on day of match) and $5 per match for student tickets.
• Where: Tickets can be purchased at csurams.com/tickets, by calling (800) 491-RAMS or at McGraw Center box office.
• Twitter updates: @Kevin_Lytle
Games are at Moby Arena.