Five questions with Tom Hilbert as volleyball begins

The CSU volleyball team is ranked 18th in the nation and is expected to make its 20th consecutive NCAA tournament appearance after being tabbed as favorites to win the Mountain West.

Even though the season is just days away, coach Tom Hilbert isn't quite sure what to expect from his team.

Injuries to opposite hitter Dri Culbert and setter Deedra Foss, both preseason MW All-Conference selections, have created extra question marks in camp for a team already tasked with replacing several key players.

The Rams start the year with two matches Saturday at Moby Arena. The first is 1 p.m. against VCU and the second is 7:30 p.m. against University of California-Santa Barbara.

Here are five questions with Hilbert in advance of his 18th season at Colorado State University.

How long does it take to find out how good your team can be?

Hilbert: This one has been interesting because of the injuries we've had. We went through three days without Deedra. We went eight days without Dri. I can't think of a year where I'm this close to playing and I still don't know what we're going to be like. It's hard for me to tell.

Is the unkown of what an inexperienced team can grow into exciting?

Hilbert: I talk with my assistants every day about this is what we do. Every year is a different challenge of fitting people into different roles. You can say all you want 'if only we had this.' But you don't. You have to go out and put together a team with the group you have and that's your charge as a coach.

What is one of your biggest areas of concern heading into the season?

Hilbert: This team is less experienced than people think. We have some key people who have no experience at all...Our middle situation is pretty good. Our outside hitting is where (we might struggle). We have Dri coming off an injury and the only other player with experience is Marlee (Reynolds). We have to have other people performing in those spots.

What are you most optimistic about?

Hilbert: Our defense is really good. Our serve-receive is pretty good and our serving is pretty good. We're going to score because of that.

How much does a first-round NCAA tournament exit last year drive you?

Hilbert: The answer to that is to try and get better every day. There's talent on this team. They can get better. That's how you solve that problem of having an early exit in the NCAA tournament. We need to be a better team at the end of November than we are right now.

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

Tom Hilbert file

Years at CSU: Begins 18th season Saturday.

At CSU: Rams have qualified for NCAA tournament every season under Hilbert...He's the winninginst coach in CSU history, passing men's basketball coach Jim Williams last year...Rams have won 11 regular-season Mountain West titles under Hilbert and five conference tournament titles...Eight Rams have earned AVCA All-American selections under Hilbert...Signed a five-year deal in August for $200,000 annually that makes him highest paid coach in MW and fourth-highest paid volleyball coach at a public university.

Next up: VCU at CSU, 1 p.m. Saturday; UC-Santa Barbara at CSU, 7:30 p.m. Saturday.