FORT COLLINS — There’s no question on one side of the court will be the best team in the Mountain West.
Arguably, one could say the best player in the conference will suit up for the other as No. 6 Colorado State visits New Mexico on Thursday, a Lobos squad featuring preseason player of the year Chantale Riddle.
But it’s also a match that will feature two of the best opposite side hitters in the conference, a duo New Mexico coach Jeff Nelson feels is among the best the conference has to offer regardless of position. Naturally, he’ll always like Riddle on his side, but he really likes the game of Colorado State junior Adrianna Culbert, the reigning player of the week.
“I think Adrianna is a little bit more stronger all-around player, but I think Chantale is a much stronger player at the net,” Nelson said. “Chantale is a dominating, physical blocker. We do a lot with her, and she passes two rotations for us. That’s where Culbert … she passes all six rotations. She’s a really strong back-row player that way.
“I think if you were picking six or eight of the best players in the conference, they’re both there and they’re both really important to their teams.”
As Nelson hinted, their games are completely different despite sharing the same spot for their teams. Riddle leads the conference in points per set (4.67) and is second in kills (3.73) and blocks (1.46), part of the reason she was a third-team All-American last year.
Culbert does a bit of everything for the Rams (18-1 overall, 6-0 MW) as one of their top ball handlers as well as ranking ninth in the conference with 3.33 digs per set and 14th in hitting percentage at .282. It’s why she was an honorable mention All-American last year.
“They are completely different. Chantale is all about physicality and athleticism,” CSU coach Tom Hilbert said. “Dri is finesse. Dri gets kills in play sets because of Deedra (Foss), and Chantale just gets all the sets. Chantale is the leading point scorer in the league.”
Most teams in the Mountain West run their offense through the outside hitters. New Mexico does not. They run theirs through Riddle, who has nearly 170 swings more than the next Lobo, Julia Warren. To top it off, Riddle is left handed which Hilbert said brings a different geometry to the game for his team, a reason they spent two days in practice on the Lobos. She also hits a lot from the back row, another irregularity from the normal, everyday match.
“She’s a matchup problem for anyone. Anyone,” Nelson said. “We played Texas and she was a matchup problem. She’s so high — she touches 10-foot-7 — and she’s so physical because her arm is so fast, both there and with the blocking.
“If she’s in the game, our opponents have to focus on that.”
The bonus for the Rams is they lead the conference in digs and have the type of defense that can handle that attack.
Teams may not focus on Culbert, but she still thrives under any circumstance. She was the player of the week — and ESPNW’s national player of the week — after putting down 18 kills on just 30 swings with one error while posting 33 digs. It’s her ability to handle all chores that makes her so valuable to the Rams, and she’s proud that’s what she has to offer.
“Just being able to be that person for the team I think is awesome,” Culbert said. “Knowing I have such high expectations and (everything) my teammates do for me makes volleyball fun. You’re never satisfied. Even with the great games I had last week, you’re never satisfied.”
The match loses some steam as the Rams remain undefeated, but New Mexico dropped two on the road. Still, Colorado State knows it will be a tough two days as the atmosphere in New Mexico (11-7, 4-2) will be hostile and a bus ride that night to play Air Force (9-11, 3-3) on Friday makes for a quick turnaround.
“They’re going to bring their ‘A’ game. It’s a hard place to play,” Hilbert said. “They’ll have a good crowd. I felt the same way at Wyoming, we just have to go in there and play with maturity and it’s not about how well New Mexico plays, but it’s about what we do and what we don’t give away.”
Contact Sports Editor Mike Brohard at 970-635-3633 or mbrohard@reporter-herald.com and twitter.com/mbrohard