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Kathryn Haynie has led the Utes in kills the past four games.
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Sept. 18, 2007
Colorado State Match Notes in PDF Format
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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah- Utah returns home on Friday to face rival Colorado State at 8 p.m. The game will be shown on the mtn. beginning at 8:30 p.m. MT.
The Week In Review
Utah opened the MWC campaign with a pair of losses against San Diego State and UNLV, both by the score of 3-1.
Against the Aztecs, the lead went back-and-forth between the two squads in the first two games, with a total of 38 ties in the first two games. Although Utah dropped both games, it came back to win game three before SDSU surged in game four to take the win. Utah was led by Kathryn Haynie, who had a career-high 22 kills.
The Utes split the first two games against UNLV before losing an early lead in game three to give the Rebels the momentum going into game four. Haynie had 18 kills and 14 digs in the loss, while Kate Robison tallied 12 kills with 17 digs.
Scouting Colorado State
Colorado State is 7-3 on the year and 2-0 in the MWC. After dropping its first three matches of the season, the Rams have won seven straight matches, most recently a 3-0 win over New Mexico.
The Rams are led by two-time MWC Player of the Week Mekana Barnes, who is averaging 3.95 kills per game and has a .494 hitting percentage on the year. She also leads the team in aces (13) and blocks (63). Jamie Strauss (3.84 kpg) and Tonya Mokelki (3.13 kpg) are also strong hitters for CSU.
Ashley Fornstrom serves as the setter with 13.16 assists per game while libero Katelin Batten averages 3.89 digs per game.
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Colorado State holds a 44-21 lead in the series. The last time these two teams met, Colorado State downed Utah, 3-2, in the title game of the Mountain West Conference Tournament, although Utah won both regular-season meetings.
Against the Best
Utah has played four teams in the top 25 of the AVCA poll, defeating No. 17 Purdue (3-2) and playing competitive games against No. 4 USC, No. 5 UCLA and No. 6 Florida, losing several games in each match by just a few points. In addition, the Utes fell to Dayton, 3-2, which moved into the rankings after playing Utah. UNLV is also receiving votes.
Dangerous Dangerfield
Senior Connie Dangerfield currently has 1,255 career digs, which ranks her second all-time at Utah. She is on pace to break the Utah record of 1,313, set in 1997 by Brenda Barton-Whicker. Dangerfield is currently averaging 4.42 digs per game.
Dangerfield was named to the all-tournament team of the AVCA Showcase. She averaged 5.38 digs per game at the showcase, more than any other player.
Hot Haynie
Junior Kathryn Haynie leads the Utes with 3.63 kills per game. She has led the team in kills (or tied for the team lead) in five games this season, including the last four games. Her career-high of 22 kills came against San Diego State on Sept. 13.
In addition, Haynie leads the team with 10 service aces.
Fantastic Freshmen
Freshmen Keisha Fisher and Karolina Bartkowiak have both made significant contributions in their first year with Utah. Fisher made her first start for the Utes against UCLA. She has had seven double-doubles this season. Fisher currently leads the Utes with 10.68 assists per game.
Freshmen Karolina Bartkowiak has played in 37 games this season. She is second on the team with 1.14 blocks per game.
Other freshmen who have played this season include Leilani Ili and Stephanie Shardlow.
