Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Missouri State
Rams Battle Back But Fall Short In Game Five Against Missouri State
8/26/2006 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Aug. 26, 2006
After dropping the first two games, the Colorado State volleyball team battled back to win games three and four to force a deciding game five, but could not hold on and lost to Missouri State in the final match of the Hilton Classic (30-28, 30-23, 21-30, 23-30, 15-7). The Rams fall to 1-2 on the season, while the Bears improve to 2-1 and take second place in the tournament behind Texas A&M which went undefeated.
Sophomore middle blocker Mekana Barnes led the team with 13 kills and six blocks and was named to the all-tournament team for her efforts. Both junior right-side hitter Tonya Mokelki and senior outside hitter Katherine Whitney added 12 kills, while sophomore outside hitter Jaime Strauss had a team-high and career-high 22 digs in the loss. Freshman libero Katelin Batten added 18 digs and Whitney chipped in 14.
"In the locker room (between games two and three), I asked the team to go out and compete, and they did that in games three and four," said head coach Tom Hilbert. "They are good kids and they are good competitors, but it's hard to come back when a player like Ashley (Fornstrom) goes down."
Fornstrom went down with a left knee injury with the Rams trailing 10-6 in game five. Senior defensive specialist Lindsey Hillegass took over the setting duties, while freshman Katie O'Hara came in to play front row.
Missouri State was led by all-tournament team selection Erin O'Connor with 24 kills, while Shanda Harper added 12 kills and had a match-high nine blocks. Libero Adeana McAfee led the match with 27 digs, while Sara Thomas had 12 and setter Katelyn Panzau -- also named to the all-tournament team -- had 12 digs and five blocks.
Strauss became the first non-libero since 2001 to record more than 20 digs in a five-game match with her 22 on the evening. Soraya Santos tallied 25 against Utah in the Mountain West Tournament in 2001.
Colorado State hosts the Coors Invitational next weekend with Florida Atlantic, James Madison and Wake Forest coming to Moby Arena.
The six member all-tournament team for the Hilton Classic was: Christi Hahn (MVP), Sarah Ammerman, Mary Batis - Texas A&M, Erin O'Connor, Katelyn Panzau - Missouri State and Mekana Barnes, Colorado State.
