When the University Colorado volleyball team started last season with a new coach and a new direction, it was the beginning of a change — not the end. The Buffaloes went 7-22 last season under Liz Kritza, with just two victories in the Big 12 Conference.
This season, CU starts anew again, with a roster almost completely turned over. And if the Buffs need a prototype to work from, a mold for big-school volleyball success, they need only to look north.
Colorado State, under 13-year coach Tom Hilbert, has landed in the top 25 at season’s end six times since 2000. Under Hilbert, the Rams are 332-85 since 1997.
The Rams and Buffs will test themselves beginning this weekend, in the Rocky Mountain Challenge, a round-robin tournament in Fort Collins and Boulder, as they each host Furman and Duke. CSU then hosts CU on Monday, at Moby Arena in Fort Collins.
The Rams have entrenched themselves as an mountain region power. Winners of six Mountain West Conference titles in the past 13 seasons, including last year after a 15-1 league mark, the Rams return this season as heavy favorites to repeat, according to a coaches poll.
CSU enters the season ranked No. 17 nationally in the AVCA coaches poll.
Colorado begins its 2010 campaign with just two returning players from last season — junior Rosie Steinhaus and sophomore Kerra Schroeder. Of the 16-player roster, 14 are newcomers.
“The main goals for this season are really establishing the culture of our program, individual player development and improved overall results,” Kritza said this week on the team’s website.
“With having a season under our belt we are in a position to understand what it is going to take to be successful here.”
Duke and Furman provide the Front Range teams with a staunch early challenge. The Blue Devils reside just outside the coaches poll and will follow a 27-win season a year ago. Furman has been dominant in the Southern Conference, including a 16-0 league mark in 2009.
Rocky Mountain Challenge
Season-opening round-robin tournament, at Moby Arena in Fort Collins and Boulder’s Coors Events Center:
• Today Duke at Colorado State, 7 p.m.; Furman at Colorado, 6:30 p.m.
• Saturday Furman at CSU, 7 p.m.; Duke at CU, 6:30 p.m.
• Monday CU at CSU, 7 p.m.
AROUND TOWN
Protecting home turf.
Something’s in the air around Denver, and we don’t mean whatever it is that makes your eyes itch. The Rockies and Rapids gain some kind of severe advantage at a mile high.
The Rockies — who today host the first of a three-game set with the Dodgers at Coors Field — have the second-best home record in the National League, at 41-20. But they are a dismal 25-40 on road.
The Rapids too excel on home turf. Colorado has just one loss at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park this season, posting a 4-1-4 mark. But the Rapids are 7-6-7 overall. Fortunately for them, six of their final 10 games are in Commerce City, including Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff against the Houston Dynamo.
If the Rockies are to return to the playoffs for a second consecutive season, and if the Rapids are to get to the MLS postseason for the first time since 2006, both teams will need to win on the road. But the road starts at home this weekend.
STAY ON THE COUNCH
Broncos-Steelers on national TV.
The Broncos get bumped from their “official” preseason television home on local KCNC-4 this weekend and move on up to a deluxe broadcast in the sky. With Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Denver for a 6 p.m. Sunday game, the Broncos will get the national treatment on KDVR-31, with Fox’s A-team of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman handling play-by-play and color duties, respectively.
If you’re a Broncos fan expecting deep insight into a Denver squad still fighting to fit the pieces together before the real season begins, don’t count on it. Roethlisberger is likely the reason the big network is in town.
After an offseason of sexual assault allegations — leading to a six-game suspension that has yet to kick in — its TV’s last chance to catch Roethlisberger in action until sometime in October.
Broncos fans looking for an analysis of the team’s likely starters — most of whom should see three quarters of playing time — pull the ol’ TV-radio combo, with Fox visuals and audio care of Dave Logan and Brian Griese on KOA 850-AM.
GET OFF THE COUCH
Brings clothes and run too.
Get your threads together for two clothes-themed races in Denver this weekend, at Cherry Creek North and the Denver Zoo.
Tonight, head toward the animals for the Drop Your Drawers and Run Wild 5K at the Denver Zoo. The 6:30 p.m. race will collect clothes, underwear and funds, organizers say, to support the more than 900 homeless children who attend Denver Public Schools. Check for info.
On Saturday at 5 p.m., the Denver stop of the Skirt Chaser run will feature a 5K course around Cherry Creek North. The women kick off the race, with men starting three minutes later ().
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
Hey, tweet us, prep fans.
With the prep football season set to start today with its oddly titled Zero Week, it’s the beginning of a new world for information.
The Denver Post will host a live chat of Friday night coverage. That conversion will be open to fans who are at the game. Just use Twitter and include the hashtag #dppreps in any tweet. Twitpics are welcome and encouraged. We’ll post the best submissions in a gallery.
Likewise, come to on Friday nights to participate directly in the chat. We’ll be passing along scores and info there as we get it. Ryan Casey, The Denver Post
