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Errors cause Rams volleyball loss in first Border War

Emma Askren, Sports Editor

October 4, 2023

Collegian | Lucy Morantz

Colorado State middle blocker Naeemah Weathers (9) and outside hitter Annie Sullivan (2) block a hit from the University of Wyoming Sept. 20, 2022.

The Rams were in enemy territory last night for their fifth game of conference play, going to Laramie, Wyoming, to face the Wyoming Cowgirls. This game marked CSU’s second rivalry game of the season, with the first against Colorado in early September.

The atmosphere at the UniWyo Sports Complex was rowdy, with a small but mighty student section from Wyoming. Following an interesting rendition of the national anthem from the UW Western Thunder Marching Band, the first set was under way.

The first set started off with a small UW lead following two solid kills from the Cowgirls’ front line. However, the Rams were able to get their feet back under them, regaining a 10-6 lead at the first timeout of the game from Wyoming.

The Rams were looking really solid, with CSU’s front line blocking several powerful spikes from the Cowgirls. Following another timeout from the Cowgirls, the Rams were leading the set 16-10 after being able to take advantage of any gaps in UW’s defense.

However, after a really solid run from the Cowgirls, the Rams were only leading by two points during the first Rams timeout. The Cowgirls may have started the first half of the set on a weaker foot, but they easily capitalized on mistakes made by CSU.

“CSU started off nearly every set in the lead but eventually fell to the defensive power of the Cowgirls.”

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The first set was coming down to the wire, making it any team’s game as the Cowgirls and the Rams exchanged leads back and forth until it was match point for Wyoming. The final point of the set was scored off of a mistake from the Rams, 25-22 for Wyoming.

It was a story of simple mistakes in the second and third sets of the Border War for the Rams, with Wyoming catching up to CSU despite early leads from the Rams. The front line for the Cowgirls was essentially a brick wall, blocking several powerful kills from both Naeemah Weathers and Kennedy Stanford.

However, it wasn’t all mistakes from the Rams as both sets were fairly equally matched. Both teams exchanged leads, similar to the first set, until it came down to the wire with Wyoming winning the second set 25-23. The second set ended with a Wyoming comeback after trailing by only two points.

The third set brought hope to the small section of Ram fans in Wyoming. With the 15 minute break over, CSU appeared to know how to finally take advantage of any weaknesses in the Wyoming team, winning 25-19.

After sending the Border War into a fourth set, both teams were attacking with a vengeance. The Cowgirls were ready to put an end to the match and get a win, and the Rams were ready to send the game into a fifth set to get a win.

The fourth set was tense as the Cowgirls got more fatigued and began to make more mistakes, the Rams began to capitalize more on those mistakes, leading the set 10-8. However, despite a Rams lead for the majority of the set, the Cowgirls were able to come back and win the fourth and final set 26-24.

Errors were the downfall for the Rams, especially whenever they were in the lead. CSU started off nearly every set in the lead but eventually fell to the defensive power of the Cowgirls. The Rams’ next game is 1 p.m. Oct. 7 against San Jose State in Moby Arena.

Reach Emma Askren at easkren@collegian.com or on Twitter @emma_askren.

About the Contributors

Emma Askren, Sports Editor

Emma Askren, alongside Damon Cook, is the fall 2023 sports editor for The Collegian. She began working at The Collegian during her first year in the fall of 2022, when she covered the swim and dive team as well as anything sports-related. She is currently a sophomore at Colorado State University, where she is majoring in journalism and media communication and double minoring in Spanish and sports management. During her first year, she joined the rowing team, began working as a reporter for The Collegian and working at the Student Recreation Center. Askren applied to CSU as a journalism major, knowing she wanted to combine her passion for sports and writing to create a fulfilling career. Upon realizing that Rocky Mountain Student Media was hiring for first-years, she jumped at the opportunity to become a writer for The Collegian. While working for the sports desk, Askren has had the opportunity to write about hockey, logging, whitewater rafting and the importance of women in sports. As a woman in a male-dominated industry, she seeks to break the status quo and become a successful sports journalist following graduation. Following a year as a sports reporter, Askren became a co-editor for the sports desk alongside Cook. Together the duo seeks to create a new and improved sports desk that caters to all readers of The Collegian and beyond.

Lucy Morantz, Co-Photo Director

Lucy Morantz is a fourth-year journalism and political science student minoring in legal studies. She is one of the two photo directors for the fall 2022 semester. Growing up with parents who met working as journalists, media has been an ever-present component of Morantz’s life, and this is ultimately what inspired her to pursue a degree and career in journalism. She had always been pulled toward career paths that provided a creative outlet; photojournalism and The Collegian have allowed her to do precisely that while simultaneously fostering her passions and gaining meaningful career experience. Throughout her college years, Morantz has worked with The Collegian every year. Growing up with the publication this way has given her a unique perspective on all the ways student media has helped students achieve their post-graduation goals, making her excited to see what her own career path with lead to. Additionally, the opportunity to collaborate with so many other student journalists to create a final product will be her most valued takeaway from her time at Colorado State University. Beyond her role at The Collegian, Morantz is also a College of Liberal Arts student ambassador and has interned with various political organizations. Outside the newsroom and classroom, Morantz can most likely be found paddle boarding at Horsetooth Reservoir, strolling through Old Town with friends or curating a new hyper-specific playlist to match her many moods.

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