Pride, momentum, and a heavy, gleaming piece of railroad history are all on the line this week as two of college volleyball’s fiercest in-state rivals square off. The seventh annual Battle for the Golden Spike is back, featuring a high-octane, back-to-back home-and-home series between the University of Colorado and Colorado State University.
For both programs, this isn’t just another line on the schedule – it’s a battle for regional supremacy. Established in 2019, each school has won three times – CU in 2021, 2022, and 2024; CSU in 2019, 2023, and 2025.
The Buffaloes’ Perspective: Protecting Home Turf and Seeking Revenge
Heading into the rivalry showdown, the University of Colorado Buffaloes are riding high. Under the guidance of a stellar roster, No. 17-ranked CU carries an unblemished 8-0 record into the weekend, bolstered by a successful road sweep and a gritty four-set victory over Southern California. Senior setter Jenna Ylivainio has orchestrated the offense to near perfection, recently earning Big 12 Starting Seven honors for her standout play.
However, the Buffs are carrying a very specific memory into Thursday night’s opening match: the sting of last year’s 3-1 loss to the Rams inside the CU Events Center. Having dropped the last three meetings in the series, a hungry Colorado squad is looking to flip the script, defend their home court, and finally bring the Golden Spike trophy back to Boulder.
The Rams’ Perspective: Defending the Spike and Fueling Postseason Ambitions
Down in Fort Collins, Colorado State (6-2) enters rivalry week with plenty of momentum. Head coach Emily Kohan’s squad put together a dominant weekend before the matchup, sweeping straight sets against South Dakota and UC Santa Barbara, then capping it off with a 76th Border War victory over rival Wyoming in Laramie.
The Rams have already faced a daunting non-conference gauntlet, pushing powerhouses like No. 5 SMU and No. 25 North Carolina to the absolute brink. While those matches slipped away, Kohan believes her team’s battle-tested nature prepares them uniquely well for CU’s intensity. Led by standout performances from players like Eve Wilson, Karsyn Fetzer, and Erin Debiec, CSU is aiming to secure its third consecutive series victory and keep the Golden Spike safely in Fort Collins.
The Series Schedule
The rivalry unfolds over 48 explosive hours:
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Match #1: Thursday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m., CU Events Center |ESPN+
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Match #2: Friday, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m., Moby Arena (CSU’s infamous Whiteout match) |Pac-12 YouTube
With history, state bragging rights, and crucial early-season momentum hanging in the balance, the Golden Spike rivalry promises to deliver elite volleyball drama from the very first serve
- 2019 (Inaugural Year): CSU won both matches to claim the first trophy (CSU def. CU 3-2 and 3-0).
- 2020: Not played (Canceled due to COVID-19).
- 2021: CU won the series and the Golden Spike. (CU def. CSU 3-1 on Sept. 16; CU def. CSU 3-0 on Sept. 18).
- 2022: CU won a dramatic reverse-sweep thriller to claim the trophy (CSU won match one 3-1; CU won match two 3-2 via a 21-25, 10-25, 25-20, 25-19, 15-8 comeback).
- 2023: CU secured the trophy via another reverse sweep on the road in five sets (17-25, 20-25, 25-19, 28-26, 15-13) after losing the night before in five sets (25-23, 25-23, 21-25, 24-26, 13-15).
- 2024: CSU captured the Golden Spike for the first time since 2019, splitting the two-day series (CU won 3-1 initially, but CSU bounced back to win 3-1, taking the trophy on the final-game tiebreaker).
- 2025: CSU swept the home-and-home series from CU (winning 3-0 in Fort Collins on Sept. 18 and 3-1 in Boulder on Sept. 19) to retain the trophy.
