Spring Break
Rams sweep UNLV on Senior Day
Stephen Meyers
Issue date: 11/17/08 Section: Sports
With tears building up and emotions running high on Sunday, the CSU volleyball team bid farewell to three of its most accomplished players on Senior Day at Moby Arena.
Mekana Barnes, Ashley Fornstrom and Jaime Strauss played their last regular season match at Moby Arena in a win over the UNLV Rebels.
Behind their senior leadership and stifling defense, the Rams (22-3, 12-2 MWC) swept the Rebels (15-13, 8-7 MWC) in three sets for their 28th consecutive home match win. The win gives the Rams two consecutive seasons of 14-0 records at home.
"You're comfortable at home, you're in your element," Barnes said. "The crowd's on your side and all the support is for you," said Barnes. "When I walk into Moby I just know we're going to win."
In the seniors' tenure at CSU, the trio led the Rams to a 55-5 record at Moby Arena, something Strauss appreciates.
"Not everybody gets the chance to play in the environment we do," Strauss said. "I wish we could play every game here."
Even UNLV head coach Allison Keeley enjoys playing in Moby.
"The crowd is great. It's so much to play here and know you're going to compete in front of people that are volleyball knowledgeable and passionate about the game," said the UNLV coach. "It's just a lot of fun."
Barnes led the team with 14 kills and 10 blocks while Strauss added seven kills and Fornstrom finished with 30 assists. The trio did not let the emotions of Senior Day get in the way of the match.
"We knew it's special, the senior night and that's always an honor to be recognized like that, but we had work to do and we knew that and that comes before everything," Barnes said.
The Rams took control of the match in the second set. After getting off to a slow start, trailing 9-6, the team reeled off a 12 point run and finished the set with a 19-3 run to win 25-12.
"Us going on a 12 point (run), that's not going to happen very often with a team of that quality," said head coach Tom Hilbert. "It changed game two because they were ahead at that point. They had momentum from the end of game one and took that momentum into game two."
Mekana Barnes, Ashley Fornstrom and Jaime Strauss played their last regular season match at Moby Arena in a win over the UNLV Rebels.
Behind their senior leadership and stifling defense, the Rams (22-3, 12-2 MWC) swept the Rebels (15-13, 8-7 MWC) in three sets for their 28th consecutive home match win. The win gives the Rams two consecutive seasons of 14-0 records at home.
"You're comfortable at home, you're in your element," Barnes said. "The crowd's on your side and all the support is for you," said Barnes. "When I walk into Moby I just know we're going to win."
In the seniors' tenure at CSU, the trio led the Rams to a 55-5 record at Moby Arena, something Strauss appreciates.
"Not everybody gets the chance to play in the environment we do," Strauss said. "I wish we could play every game here."
Even UNLV head coach Allison Keeley enjoys playing in Moby.
"The crowd is great. It's so much to play here and know you're going to compete in front of people that are volleyball knowledgeable and passionate about the game," said the UNLV coach. "It's just a lot of fun."
Barnes led the team with 14 kills and 10 blocks while Strauss added seven kills and Fornstrom finished with 30 assists. The trio did not let the emotions of Senior Day get in the way of the match.
"We knew it's special, the senior night and that's always an honor to be recognized like that, but we had work to do and we knew that and that comes before everything," Barnes said.
The Rams took control of the match in the second set. After getting off to a slow start, trailing 9-6, the team reeled off a 12 point run and finished the set with a 19-3 run to win 25-12.
"Us going on a 12 point (run), that's not going to happen very often with a team of that quality," said head coach Tom Hilbert. "It changed game two because they were ahead at that point. They had momentum from the end of game one and took that momentum into game two."
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