Colorado College Athletics

The Colorado College volleyball team opened its 2026 season with a 1-1 record at the Pikes Peak Challenge in Nikki Binetti's debut as interim head coach, but it was so close to being a perfect day.
 
After sweeping Augustana College in three sets in the season opener, the Tigers took No. 9-ranked Calvin University to the brink before falling in five sets, 18-25, 23-25, 27-25, 27-25, 20-18, at Reid Arena.
 
After roaring to a two-set lead, CC held two match points in the deciding set, at 16-15 and 18-17, but the Knights rallied again to take the match and improve to 2-0.
 
Senior Brooke Brilliant led the Tigers with 17 kills and a .500 hitting percentage against Calvin, followed by senior Camille Sherrill with 14. Fellow senior Annie Joo collected 51 assists, while senior Meghan Gannon and Sherrill paced the squad with 21 and 16 digs, respectively.
 
In the opening match, a 25-15, 25-16, 25-19 triumph over Augustana, Brilliant led the Tigers with nine kills, followed by Sherrill and senior Julia Reusch seven seven apiece.
 
Joo posted 27 assists, while freshman Amanda Cullen led the squad with 12 digs in her first collegiate appearance and Sherrill followed with 11.
 
The victory was the first for Binetti, who took over the program last spring following the retirement of Sharon Dingman.

"I am extremely proud of how much hustle and heart this team showed today," Binetti said. "It is never easy to play back-to-back, especially against a nationally-ranked opponent, but we fought to the very end and showed how much potential we have as a program. Today lit a fire in us that iss going to be hard to put out."

The Tigers wrap up the Pikes Peak Challenge on Saturday, Sept. 5, against St. Norbert College in Reid Arena, beginning at 2:30 p.m.