In a game earlier this season, freshman center Megan Cyr and sophomore outside hitter Becah Fogle block a Texas Tech spike, helping the Buffs defeat the Raiders in four sets Wednesday, Oct. 14. CU lost to Kansas 3-0 Wednesday in Coors Events Center. (CU Indpendent file/Molly Maher)
The Coors Events Center has not witnessed many victories from the Colorado Buffaloes volleyball team.
Wednesday’s clash against Kansas was no different for the Buffs as they fell to the Jayhawks in three sets, 25-22, 25-23, 25-16.
The loss is CU’s sixth straight and its last victory occurred on Oct. 14 against Texas Tech at home. They are 2-8 in 10 homes games this season.
The first set saw sophomore outside hitter Becah Fogle rack up four kills as the Jayhawks (13-10, 5-8 Big 12 Conference) narrowly overcame an energetic Colorado (6-17, 1-13) squad.
With the second set quickly wrapping up, the Buffs made a strong effort but came up short. The last set was all Kansas as they closed the night with 50 total kills to Colorado’s 41.
Colorado was unable to lead in kills all night. They came the closest in the second set when they finished the set one short of Kansas.
Sophomore outside hitter Rosie Steinhaus, who notched eight kills, said the loss was due to the team’s errors.
“I think it was kind of just what we’ve talked about before, controlling our unforced errors,” Steinhaus said. “We’ve been working on that in practice but we didn’t execute it as we would have liked. I think that was the main problem.”
Fogle, who had a team-high 13 kills, suggested the team’s “passing could definitely improve.”
Head coach Liz Kritza said ball control was a constant struggle.
“We actually struggled in stretches with our ball control,” Kritza said. “There were times when we really suffered and we weren’t able to execute our offense. When we weren’t able to stay in system because we weren’t a very fast offense, then the result is what you see.”
Kansas, who racked up 17 kills in the final set, kept a steady offensive flow, something Kritza said her team was unable to maintain.
“We just weren’t able to get our in-system offense firing and that meant one or two players had to carry the load for us, and that is not the way this team is going to win,” Kritza said. “The way that this team is going to win is with a really balance approach.”
A visibly frustrated Steinhaus said the team gave it their all.
“I mean our fight was there and our hearts where in it,” Steinhaus said. “But it just didn’t go our way.”
The team’s next game is against Texas Tech at 3 p.m. Saturday in Lubbock, Texas. A victory could go a long way as the Red Raiders are winless in the Big 12.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Esteban L. Hernandez at Esteban.hernandez@colorado.edu.
