The nationally No. 4-ranked CSU Pueblo Thunderwolves return to action this Saturday for their homecoming game against New Mexico Highlands, looking to remain perfect on the season.

Coming off a bye week following a win at Adams State, head coach Philip Vigil said the team chose to practice and improve rather than take an extended break.

Watch Dante Williams' report in the video player below: No. 4 CSU Pueblo enters back half of the season with focus on improvement

First off, you have to lean into what got you to 6-0, and that's just focusing on every single day. So last week, yes, it was a bye week, but we practiced and we made a determination that we're going to find a way to improve and get better over the bye week, and that was really our goal, Vigil said. Give the guys a couple of days off over the weekend, and as you can see this morning they're back at it and energized and ready to rock and roll.

Vigil said physicality is the defining characteristic of this team on both sides of the ball.

"I think first and foremost it's physical, you know? I think you turn on the tape, you're going to see guys that are running to the football on defense hitting people. Then on offense, you're going to see an offensive line, a tight end group, a running back group that is physically imposing their will, Vigil said. Physical football teams win games, and that's the thing that I'm most proud about this group because I think they're very, very physical on both sides of football.

With the season at the halfway point, Vigil acknowledged there are still areas to address particularly eliminating turnovers.

There's little things that we have to fine-tune and get better at. You know, you look at our tackling on defense from the first part of the season to where it's at right now; that's an improvement, but it's always going to be better. You look at offensively, some of the procedural penalties that we're making early in the season; that has improved it tremendously. We haven't had a game yet where we haven't turned the ball over. So there's always going to be areas where we can improve and find ways to get better, and every unit, every position, every player knows what that is, and they got to attack it every day," Vigil said.

CSU Pueblo will host New Mexico Highlands in their homecoming game at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17.

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Brooklyn has transformed the Palmer High School volleyball program from the ground up ending an eight-year postseason drought and helping propel the Terrors to a 9-1 start this season.

After the program failed to reach the postseason for eight consecutive years, Brooklyn helped lead the Terrors to a regional tournament appearance in 2025. Head coach Adrianne Dettler said she recognized Brooklyn's potential from the moment she joined the program as a freshman.

Learn More About Brookln's Story Below

"Just starting her freshman year you could tell she was a little different. Her IQ even at a young age was kind of beyond what we've had here at Palmer, so overall experience of volleyball, you could tell there was a difference," Dettler said.

Now in her second year as team captain, Brooklyn has found the balance between leading and being supportive.

"I think my teammates would describe me as like someone who's encouraging in like the tough moments but also can give tough feedback when it's needed and when it's due like, but ultimately a pretty encouraging person," Brooklyn said.

Dettler has watched that leadership continue to develop.

"Last year she's like, 'I'm ready to be a leader.' And this year she has taken that on. Not afraid to have the hard conversations, not afraid to get on her teammates if they're slacking, but they respect it because she brings it as well," Dettler said.

Brooklyn backs up her leadership with production on the court. She is top 3 on the team in every statistical category and recorded 25 kills against Elizabeth, leading the Terrors to victory after trailing by two sets.

For Brooklyn, individual numbers take a back seat to team success.

"I would love a good stat line and to show I'm a good player, but honestly our team just does such a good job that it doesn't really matter," Brooklyn said.

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