Where CSU volleyball stands: Rams finish tough nonconference with rivalry win over Colorado

The Colorado State volleyball team finished a difficult nonconference slate on a positive note.

The Rams took down rival Colorado 3-1 in Boulder on Friday night. It was payback for a 3-1 loss in Fort Collins to the Buffs on Thursday.

CSU secured the Golden Spike trophy with the victory (due to winning the points tiebreaker). It was the last match before Mountain West play.

Here’s where CSU stands.

Tough nonconference for CSU

CSU is now 4-6 overall. It’s tied with the 2021 season for fewest nonconference wins for the program since the 1982 season.

This and the 2021 season are the only times since 1982 where the Rams have been under a .500 record in nonconference play.

Yes, five of six CSU losses came against power conference foes, including top-15 teams Florida and Oregon. The Rams have a history of being one of those ranked teams and beating them.

CSU also lost for a fourth consecutive time to Northern Colorado.

The Rams haven’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2019 and winning the Mountain West’s auto bid is the only path there now. Seven Mountain West teams have seven wins or more in nonconference play.

CSU opens league play at Utah State (2-8) on Sept. 26 and then at Nevada (7-5) on Sept. 28. The first MW home match is vs. San Jose State on Oct. 3 (7 p.m.).

Fans filling Moby Arena

Despite the overall struggles and a 2-5 home record, fans are still coming out to Moby Arena in force.

There were 5,016 for Thursday’s match against CU and 7,507 (capacity is just over 8,000) for the season opener. That was the fourth-largest crowd in program history.

CSU is averaging 4,352 per game, which is No. 9 in the nation among all Division I teams.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle .

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Where CSU volleyball stands: Rams finish tough nonconference with rivalry win over Colorado