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The No. 23 Colorado State volleyball ended its 2017 season after suffering a loss to No. 4 Stanford in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday night in Maples Pavilion on the campus of Stanford University.
The sweep brings the end of Colorado State’s 2017 season and marks the final career performances for seniors Jasmine Hanna, Sanja Cizmic, Alexandra Poletto, McKenna Thornlow and Mariah Green.
Colorado State, who was ranked No. 4 in the nation in hitting percentage entering the tournament, finished with its lowest output of the season with a .085 hitting percentage after Stanford – No. 4 in the nation in blocking – controlled the net from start to finish tallying 16 blocks, while holding the Rams to just two – lowest of the season. The sweep was the first of the season that CSU suffered, finishing the season with a 21-1 record in three-set matches.
Kirstie Hillyer finished the match with nine kills and Breana Runnels added eight. Both Jasmine Hanna and Hillyer recorded two blocks for the Rams and Amanda Young and Katie Oleksak had six digs apiece.
Stanford controlled the match from the first serve to the last, not allowing Colorado State to hold the lead at any point. At the intermission, Colorado State – No. 14 in the nation in blocking – had yet to record its first block, while Stanford had 10.
Colorado State finished the season with a 29-4 overall record, which is the 21st time under Head Coach Tom Hilbert and 23-consecutive season dating back to 1995 that the Rams reached 20 wins. The Rams appeared in its 23rd-straight postseason and 29th NCAA Tournament berth.
Featured Image Credit: Tomas Redondo, Colorado State Athletics