Senior’s Kasie Gilfert and Camille Smith shine as the Mavericks lost only one set in the first day Oredigger Volleyball Classic as the Colorado Mesa University volleyball team defeated both Fresno Pacific and Lubbock Chrisitan University. Through both games, Gilfert had 28 kills along with eight blocks, and Smith led the team with 29 kills to go with her four blocks.
“It’s great we are starting off the season 2-0, they were two really good matches for us,” Head Coach Dave Fleming said. “We played really well in the middle, but we struggle a little bit out of the gate in the first set against Lubbock Christian, and I think we were expecting them to be outside specific, and they were a completely different team, but we responded really well in games two through four.”
The Mavericks swept FPU in the first game of the season as they didn’t allow the Sunbirds to accumulate 20 points in any of the three games. The first set was the only shaky moment for CMU as FPU got an early lead. However junior transfer Maddi Foutz helped overcome the rusty start with eight kills and 11 digs.
FPU scored first in the third set, but CMU was right there to answer. The Mavericks were able to string two different four-point streaks making it difficult for the Sunbirds to steal a set and extend the game. Soon CMU had firm control of the and won the season opener in emphatic fashion.
“We set the middles a lot, both Camille and Kasie had a really good day,” Fleming said. “It started to open up our pin offense and I think our pins just have to get a little bit more comfortable, we have a lot of rookie pins, Savannah Spitzer, Maranda Theleus…Maddie Foutz hasn’t played pin since high school. A lot of rookies out there taking digs on digs for us, so it was a good first day and they understand what they have to do going forward,” Coach Fleming said.
In game two, CMU defeated Lubbock Christian University 3-1, and they were led by Gilfert with 16 kills and Smith with 14 kills. Junior Ara Norwood had 30 assists while Samantha Ritter racked up 25.
The Chaps beat the Mavericks 21-25 in the first set as both teams were trading streaks of scoring. LCU took the lead early though and never gave it back up….until the remaining three sets.
The Chaps scored the first point of the second set, but the Mavericks answered with three of their own. Each team had its own small runs until CMU was able to get a 24-20 lead and then seal the deal and the 25-22 set win.
With the momentum on their side, the Mavericks took control of the third and fourth sets early and the Chaps couldn’t come back with enough momentum of their own. After the 10th point in the fourth set, CMU hit the gas and went on several three-point runs to finish LCU 25-17.
“We fought really well, it seemed like they were in control and they enjoyed playing with each other, and even after we lost the first match,” Fleming said. “I was kind of barking at them, and they said alright, we got this coach, don’t worry about it. I liked that they have that gamer mentality like we can do this.”
The Mavericks had 111 total assists and 114 kills on Friday.
CMU’s next set games of the Oredigger Classic will be on Saturday, Sept. 7th with the first one starting at 2:30 p.m. against Northern State University.
