The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Issue date: 12/1/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Brandon Iwamoto Members of the CSU volleyball team watch in anticipation as the NCAA volleyball tournament brackets are announced on the screen at the Stonehouse Grille in Old Town on Sunday evening. The Rams will be traveling to Gainesville, Fla. to take on Florida International on Friday.

The CSU volleyball team better pack some sunscreen this weekend because it's headed to Gainesville, Fla. for the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament. CSU is one of 33 schools to receive an at-large bid to the tournament, making its 14th consecutive trip.

The team, head coach Tom Hilbert and about fifty CSU students and Ft. Collins residents gathered at The Stonehouse Grille in Old Town Sunday night awaiting the announcement of the destination for the team's first round match-up.

The Rams (22-6) take on the Florida International Golden Panthers (28-6) in the first round and with a win will play the winner between Florida and Florida A&M - a possible re-match with a Florida team the Rams beat at Moby on Sept. 13. Stanford (No. 2), Hawaii (No. 7), Purdue (No. 10) and Florida (No. 15) are the top teams in the bracket division. Hilbert said he is pleased with the selection and is excited for the possible re-match against Florida.

"I think we got a pretty good deal considering the way we have played recently," said Hilbert. "This will give ourselves a warm-up then a chance to play Florida and get back here. Our team is familiar with them and ready for this. I'm actually really excited. Obviously we'll go out to Gainesville and do the best we can."

Hilbert does not know much about Florida International besides the fact that they will have many foreign players and are a team the Rams should beat. Senior setter Ashley Fornstrom looks forward to its first-round match-up.

"They are a beatable team," said Fornstrom. "It will be a little rougher since it is on the road, but we need to finish games which we haven't been doing lately and do more on defense and stay strong throughout."

Fornstrom is also excited about the possible re-match with Florida, who Hilbert said will be much improved from when the two played each other in September.

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