Front Range rivals Colorado College and the University of Denver are ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, in the season’s first USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll released Monday. The poll’s top four teams — Boston College, Michigan, Notre Dame and North Dakota — advanced to the Denver-hosted Frozen Four at the Pepsi Center in April.
The Tigers, who are led by sophomore goalie Richard Bachman and forward Chad Rau, are the defending Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season champions. The Pioneers, paced by junior center Tyler Ruegsegger and sophomore center Tyler Bozak, won the WCHA playoff title in March.
Air Force, the two-time defending Atlantic Hockey Association champion, is not among the top 15. But the Falcons are one of 11 other teams to receive votes.
CSU on rise in volleyball.
After starting its Mountain West Conference schedule with two victories, the Colorado State women’s volleyball team moved up two spots to No. 13 in the AVCA coaches’ poll. The Rams (10-1, 2-0) defeated Utah in five sets and swept then-No. 24 BYU last week in Fort Collins. Penn State holds the No. 1 spot, followed by Nebraska.
The MWC named CSU middle blocker Mekana Barnes its co-player of the week along with TCU middle blocker Devon Kirk.
CU cracks top 10 in women’s golf.
Two tournaments into its season, the Colorado women’s golf team earned its first top-10 ranking in its 15-year history when Golfweek placed the Buffaloes at No. 10.
“This is just after two events, so there’s still a long way to go this season,” CU coach Anne Kelly said.
Arizona State is ranked No. 1, and Colorado State is in the poll at No. 25.
Colorado freshman Emily Childs is ranked No. 21 in the individual poll, and Denver junior Stephanie Sherlock is No. 25.
