FORT COLLINS — When practice started, Tom Hilbert was playing with a multitude of lineups and defensive patterns in his head, as well a roster complete with seven new players to his program.
Where to start was more an issue than where it would lead the Colorado State volleyball coach. Just for fun, that same day, his team opened the season ranked No. 25 in the AVCA preseason poll.
At the time, he knew his team was so very far away from having to live up that position.
Eight days later, while he's still not sure about the poll, he's much clearer on his lineup, and it happened much quicker than he would have believed.