Long before her name was etched into the legends of Colorado State University Pueblo athletics, Oni Lattin was a force of nature at the net, a player whose sheer presence could alter the geometry of an entire volleyball match.

For opposing hitters in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and across NCAA Division II, seeing Lattin line up across the net meant one thing: trouble.

Now, the historic career of the standout middle blocker/right side has received its ultimate validation. Lattin has officially been named to the CSU Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame class, joining the program’s elite history as only the eighth volleyball player to earn the prestigious honor.  RESERVATIONS

Lattin is part of the 17th class to be inducted along with other former student-athletes Lauren Fairchild (track & field, 2016-2021); Scott Gallas (football, 1976-1980); Mike Guenther (wrestling, 1983-1985); Brad Ranson (basketball, 1980-1983); and John Trahan (football, 1981-1984) on Friday at the Occhiato Student Center Ballroom.

Donnell Leomiti, a defensive backfield coach on the ThunderWolves to the 2014 NCAA Division II football championship, and Tim Simmons, a 1969 Southern Colorado State College mass communications graduate, will also be inducted along with the 2017-2018 women’s basketball team.

A Houston Native Finds Her Home in Pueblo

Hailing from Houston, Texas, and a Bellaire High School graduate, Lattin arrived at CSU Pueblo ready to make an impact. Playing for the ThunderWolves from 2014 to 2015, she built a legacy defined by relentless work ethic, academic dedication as a music major, and defensive mastery that rewrote the school record books.

Her mother, Monica (Lamb), was a standout basketball player at the University of Southern California and played for the Houston Comets of the WNBA.  Her grandfather, David Lattin, played on the 1966 Texas Western (now UTEP) basketball team that won the NCAA championships.  He played in the NBA for the San Francisco Warriors and Phoenix Suns, and spent three years in the American Basketball Association.

While her two-year stint with the Pack was marked by high-level play, her senior campaign in 2015 truly transcended ordinary athletic achievement. Lattin didn’t just have a breakout year; she authored one of the most statistically dominant defensive seasons in NCAA Division II volleyball history.

Rewriting the Record Books

During her unforgettable 2015 senior season, Lattin locked down opponents with a ferocity that caught national attention. She swatted her way to a school record (rally-scoring era) of 157 total blocks, ranking sixth in the nation.

Her dominance at the net stretched across multiple categories:

• Blocks Per Set: Lattin averaged a staggering 1.54 blocks per set, ranking second in all of NCAA Division II.

• Solo Blocks: She recorded 49 solo blocks, also good for second-best in the country.

• Block Assists: She shattered the program’s single-season record for block assists.

Lattin’s defensive prowess wasn’t just an individual spectacle; it elevated the entire ThunderWolves squad. Thanks in large part to her anchoring the middle, the Pack led the RMAC with 2.52 blocks per game and ranked 13th nationally as a team.

Yet, reducing Lattin to a defensive specialist would paint an incomplete picture of her brilliance. Offensively, she was equally lethal. She led the Pack in 2015 with a sparkling .307 hitting percentage – the fifth-highest in the RMAC and the third-best single-season mark in CSU Pueblo history. She chipped in 2.70 kills per set (270 total kills), serving as the heartbeat of a ThunderWolves team that secured back-to-back RMAC Tournament appearances.

Breaking Barriers and Earning Accolades

Lattin’s historic senior year culminated in heavy postseason hardware. She earned CCA First Team All-Region honors, becoming the first CSU Pueblo volleyball player to win a regional award since 1999. She was also repeatedly recognized locally, including earning RMAC Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Beyond the numbers and the plaques, Lattin’s impact is measured by the standard she set for future generations of ThunderWolves. She proved that, through grit, positioning, and an unrelenting competitive spirit, a player could single-handedly shift a program’s tide.

Cementing a Legacy

When Oni Lattin steps forward to be inducted into the CSU Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame, she won’t just be celebrated for the blocks she accumulated or the records she broke. She will be honored for embodying the very best of what it means to wear the red and blue—representing the Pack with unmatched intensity, excellence, and grace.

For a program with a proud history, adding a legend of Lattin’s caliber only makes the tapestry richer. Years after her final spike echoed through the gym, Oni Lattin’s legacy at CSU Pueblo remains untouched: towering, permanent, and Hall of Fame-bound.