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CU women’s volleyball has a HUGE win over No. 1 Huskies
Oct 5th
BOULDER — The University of Colorado volleyball team shocked the top-ranked Washington Huskies on Friday night by handing them their first loss of the 2013 season, winning 3-1 (25-17, 26-24, 15-25, 25-19) at the Coors Events Center.
“I don’t think it has hit me yet,” senior Kerra Schroeder said. “At the same time, I think that we finally played to our potential, and I don’t think that anyone in the Pac-12 is ready for it. I’m not even shocked that we played so well. It’s awesome that we finally did.”
Simpson had 18 kill shots
This was the Buffs second win over a ranked opponent in eight days as they defeated No. 11 UCLA in five sets on Sept. 27, also at the Coors Events Center. The last time CU defeated two ranked teams in such a short span was in 2005 when the Buffs beat Kansas State (3-2) on Oct. 12 and Texas A&M (3-2) on Oct. 16. KSU was ranked 20th and TAMU was 24th.
“I told the team in the huddle that I’m not surprised at the results,” coach Liz Kritza said. “We focused on playing well. Even though we have had some really good matches in this season already, this team and this group of coaches is different. We’re just not going to be satisfied until we can maximize everything that we have. Tonight was the best I have seen this team play this season, and I still think that there’s more for us to do. We’re definitely going to enjoy it and celebrate it; wins like this are very significant. Years of work go into something like this is. I couldn’t be more proud of these players and coaches and this complete team effort.”
This was just the second time in program history that CU has knocked off a No. 1 ranked team; the last time was Nov. 11, 2006 when the Buffs took down Nebraska in five sets. Coincidentally that was the Husker’s only loss of the season as NU went onto win the NCAA Championship.
“Everybody wants to beat the number one team on their home court; it has to be a little bit more than that,” Kritza said. “It has to be a true group that actually believes it and is willing to make sacrifices and willing to work. Especially for us, we are coming off of a tough match on Tuesday. It’s up and down, and it’s even more significant coming off of that tough slip.”
Austen had 11 kills.
CU improved to 10-3 on the season, 2-1 in the Pac-12 with the win; while UW is now 10-1 overall and 1-2 in the Pac-12.
Junior Taylor Simpson recorded a match-high 18 kills in the win and hit .302 with only five errors on 43 attacks. She also led the team with 20 digs for her sixth double-double of the year.
“This was the most exciting game I’ve ever played throughout my entire career so far,” Simpson said. “I can only imagine what’s next. We just beat the number one team, and I’m beyond excited.”
The Buffs recorded 56 kills in the four sets, 10 more than Washington (46) and out-hit the Huskies .282-.135. Nicole Edelman handed out 46 of CU’s 53 assists and added 12 digs, two kills and a pair of blocks.
Sophomore Alexis Austin added 11 kills for the Buffs and Schroeder hammered nine. Kelsey English and Nikki Lindow each added eight kills in the victory.
CU also did well in the back row, picking up almost everything that came its way. The Buffs had 68 digs, compared to UW’s 55. Cierra Simpson added 12 digs for the Buffs and Schroeder had 10 digs on top of Taylor Simpson’s 20 and Edelman’s 12 digs. The Buffs block also looked good with Lindow and Schroeder posted four block assists. They recorded 9.0 team blocks compared to UW’s 6.0 blocks.
“I am so proud of everyone on my team,” Schroeder said. “I feel like we had a lot of long rallies, and no one gave up. That shows a lot of heart.”
The Huskies were led by Krista Vansant’s 14 kills. Lianna Sybeldon was also in double-digits with 12 kills while hitting .440. She also recorded four block assists. Jenna Orlandini had a team-best 15 digs in the match.
The Buffs took a 10-5 lead to start the match, forcing UW to call its first timeout. Out of the break, the Huskies took three of the next four points but the Buffs regrouped and kept rolling, going up 19-13. Once again the Huskies needed a break, but they couldn’t slow down CU and the Buffs closed the set 25-17. CU hit .378 and held the Huskies to .088.
The second set was much closer and the Buffs had the lead through the first part. CU was up 15-14 at the media timeout when the Huskies took two straight points for their first lead of the night (16-15). The score would be tied nine more times in the set and it would also go extra points. CU had set point (24-23), but UW tied it back up with a kill. The Buffs decided it was time to end the set after that with a pair of kills from Austin (26-24).
UW took a 9-4 lead in the third set, causing the Buffs to use their first timeout early. CU tried to chip away at the Huskies lead, but weren’t able to keep pace with UW. The Huskies extended their lead to 19-3 and finished the set 25-15.
The fourth set was another close one before the Buffs were able to go up 15-11 and extended it to 19-14. The Huskies got back within two points at 19-17, but CU answered with three points to retake a five-point advantage (22-17). The Buffs remained poised and held on to win one of the biggest matches in CU history 25-19. They hit .229 in the in the set, but more importantly held UW to .033.
The Buffs will be back in action on Sunday at 12 p.m. against the Washington State Cougars at the Coors Events Center.
COLORADO BUFFALOES
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Fresno State replaced with Charleston Southern University
Sep 30th
GAME WILL BE PLAYED ON OCTOBER 19
BOULDER — The University of Colorado has secured Charleston Southern University as the opponent to replace the Sept. 14 Fresno State football game which was postponed due to the record rainfall and subsequent flooding in Boulder, CU athletic director Rick George announced Monday.
The game has been scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 19; the kickoff time will be determined once the Pac-12 Conference sets the television schedule for that day next Monday.
CU and Fresno State officials couldn’t come up with a workable scenario to make up the game this season and will discuss future options; the series is a “two-for-one” (two in Boulder, one in Fresno) as the Buffaloes played on the road at Fresno last year and the two are scheduled to meet in Boulder on Sept. 14, 2019.
CHARLESTON SOUTHERN IS USED TO BIG TURNOUTS FOR THEIR GAMES
“The Fresno State athletic department leadership, their president and their fans have all been very supportive and cooperative in our efforts to reschedule this contest,” George said. “We are also most appreciative of Fresno State’s student-athletes collecting donations to aid those victims of the flood.”
Over the last two weeks, George and CU officials contacted nearly three dozen schools on both the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) and FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) levels, exploring all options available to find an opponent, preferably for Oct. 19, which was the second open date on CU’s 2013 schedule. The only other possible date would have been the first Friday or Saturday in December, but those were fraught with complications.
Last Friday, Colorado received a waiver from the NCAA for it to be bowl eligible if it gets to six wins this season but if two were to come against FCS teams. Under the current rules, schools are allowed one win over an FCS opponent to count toward the minimum six required for postseason eligibility; the Buffaloes already had played an FCS school, Central Arkansas, winning that game 38-24 back on Sept. 7.
Fans can use the tickets and parking passes dated Sept. 14 with Fresno State for admission to the game; if ticket holders are unable to attend the make-up game on Oct. 19, they can make an exchange for any of CU’s other four home games (Oregon, Arizona, California or Southern California). Those doing so would be on a value for value, best available seating basis which would need to be done before the final home game against USC on Nov. 23.
(The complete ticket policy can be found here:
http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=209272661).
Charleston Southern (which also goes by CSU) is a member of the Big South Conference and is currently 5-0 on the season; the Buccaneers are ranked just outside the Top 25 in the FCS. To date, they have played and won four games on the road (at The Citadel, Campbell, Norfolk State and Appalachian State) with a win over Shorter at home. They also received a waiver from the NCAA, one that allowed them to play a 13th game, eight of which will be away from Charleston.
“We really appreciate (CSU athletic director) Hank Small and Charleston Southern working with us to schedule this game and we look forward to hosting the Buccaneers on October 19,” George said.
The Buccaneers will be the first school from South Carolina to play a football game in Boulder; CU has played Clemson twice, both in bowl games, and has never faced the University of South Carolina or other FCS schools who have traditionally played schools one division higher, including Coastal Carolina, Furman, Presbyterian or the Citadel.
There are five Pac-12 conference games on Oct. 19, along with one non-league affair, USC playing at Notre Dame; the conference and its television partners make their selections Monday mornings, so the game time will be known on Oct. 7
David Plati
Associate AD/Sports Information
University of Colorado Buffaloes
357 UCB / Fieldhouse Annex #50
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Playing inspired volleyball, Buffs whip No.11 UCLA
Sep 28th
The win snapped a 41-match losing streak to ranked opponents
BOULDER— The University of Colorado played inspiring volleyball on Friday night to defeat No. 11 UCLA in front of a crowd of almost 2,800 at the Coors Events Center 3-1 (27-29, 25-15, 24-26, 25-23, 15-12).
The win is the first ever for the Buffs against the Bruins and it’s also just the third time CU has ever taken a set or more against UCLA. CU improved to 9-2 (1-1 Pac-12) with the win, while UCLA fell to 9-3 (0-2 Pac-12).
“This is the most exciting night I have been a part of here, not just because of the victory, but because of the effort on the court and what the administration did [as far as marketing goes] to pack this place,” coach Liz Kritza said. “It was really a significant night for our program to be able to take out the No. 11-ranked team in the country in front of a crowd like this on our home court. It’s a milestone for our program. Excitement doesn’t do it justice.”
This was the first win for the Buffs over a ranked team since 2008 when they defeated No. 2 Nebraska in four sets (25-19, 27-25, 18-25, 25-16), snapping a 41-match losing streak to ranked opponents.
“I couldn’t be more proud about how we came back tonight,” Kritza said. “I like that these kids have guts, they’re fearless, and most importantly that they play different roles even when I am subbing people in and out. They all get the focuses and the purposes, that’s why we are able to do that, because we are a good team.”
Junior Taylor Simpson had a team-leading 15 kills
“It’s so exciting to be a part of something bigger than yourself,” junior outside hitter Taylor Simpson said about the win. “It’s so awesome that I can’t put it in words. I can’t wait to see what we do with the rest of the season.”
Simpson led the Buffs with 15 kills and both Nikki Lindow and Neira Ortiz Ruiz hammered 14 kills each. Lindow had a monster game as she also added a career-high 12 blocks, which tied the fourth best in CU history and hit a team-high .464 with just one error on 28 swings.
Kelsey English and Kerra Schroeder each had eight kills in the victory. English had three block assists and Schroeder helped defensively with 11 digs. Simpson also earned her fifth double-double this season with 15 digs and added six blocks. Nicole Edelman handed out a career-best 56 assists and added four kills and 12 digs. Cierra Simpson also came up with 15 digs in the victory.
As a team, the Buffs recorded 69 kills and hit .211 while UCLA had 66 kills and hit .169. The Buffs also out-blocked UCLA 17.0-12.0 and had the slight edge in digs (72-71).
“What’s even better is that we showed some serious teamwork tonight.” Lindow said. “It was the most calm feeling I have ever had on the court. We had confidence in our eyes and no question on how to handle this game even in the fourth set. It was the greatest feeling I have ever felt while being a part of this team.”
The Bruins had two players with 18 kills each, Mariana Aquino and Karsta Lowe. Karly Drolson led the Bruins with a career-high 23 digs and Zoe Nightingale recorded a team-high nine blocks.
Colorado played a very close set with the Bruins despite falling behind 12-6 to start the game. CU came back to tie the score at 20-20 and from that point, it was a back and forth battle to the end. The Buffs fought off four UCLA set points before the Bruins were able to put together two straight points to take the frame 29-27. CU had 19 kills in the set and hit .233 while UCLA recorded 14 kills and hit .286.
The Buffs used the momentum they gained from the end of the first set and pounced on UCLA, taking a 9-6 lead in the second set. The Buffs were hot and continued to add to their lead, going up 20-12. The Bruins didn’t have an answer and CU easily finished the set 25-15. The Buffs hit .233 in the set and held the Bruins to -.024.
UCLA took the advantage to start the third set (7-3), but the Buffs rallied back to even the score with a 4-0 run (7-7). The Buffs took their first lead of the set at 11-10 with a kill from Ortiz Ruiz and added to their lead with a 6-2 run to take a 17-12 advantage. UCLA got back within two points at 19-17 and tied the score two points later.
After a CU timeout, the Bruins took the lead back with a kill (20-19), but Taylor Simpson answered for the Buffs with her own kill (20-20). The score was tied again at 21-21 before UCLA went up 24-22. CU fought off two set points with kills from Lindow and Taylor Simpson to tie the set again (24-24). This time the Bruins used a timeout and took the first two points out of the break to win the set 26-24.
UCLA got out to a 12-2 lead in the fourth set. CU started to come back slowly and forced the Bruins to take a timeout at 12-6 after four straight points. After the break, the Buffs added three straight points to bring the score to 12-9 and completed the comeback by tying the score at 15-15. CU went ahead for the first time in the set at 18-17 after a huge block from English and Taylor Simpson. The Buffs took a two-point lead at 22-20 to force UCLA to call its final timeout of the set, after which CU would go up 24-21 on the Bruins. UCLA fought off the first two set points (24-23), which made CU spend a timeout. Out of the break, Ortiz Ruiz finished the set with a kill (25-23).
The fifth set was another battle for the two teams. CU took an 8-7 lead at the side-change and went up 9-7. After a quick UCLA break, the Buffs added to their lead, going up 11-8. The Bruins weren’t just going to go away and snatched the following two points, forcing CU to take a timeout. Lindow hammered a kill to give the Buffs a two-point cushion (12-10). UCLA took the following point, but the Buffs didn’t get discouraged and were able to finish the set and the match 15-12. CU hit .625 in the final set with 10 kills and no errors on 16 attacks.
“I do want to say thank you to State Farm, they sponsored this match,” Kritza said. “It was a significant contribution. It was a great atmosphere for our players. They got a bunch of tickets out to the community. It’s one of the best matches I have seen here for volleyball in the Coors Event Center. Thanks to the fans and to State Farm. I also have to give kudos to my assistant coaches for preparing this team and making good adjustments when needed.”
The Buffs will be back in action on Tuesday, October 1 with a contest against Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo. at 5 p.m.
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