The University of Colorado Volleyball team hosted the number one team in the country on Friday night. The 10-6 Lady Buffaloes took on the 16-0 University of Southern California Trojans in Boulder in front of a large crowd gathered to celebrate breast cancer.
The Buffs took the No. 1 Trojans to five sets in an epic matchup that ultimately went in the Trojans favor 25-21, 27-29, 29-27, 16-25, and 7-15.
This is the most any team has tested the Trojans thus far. Last week USC played Washington, who was previously undefeated and ranked No. 5 in the country. Washington was only able to win one of four sets against Southern California.
CU is currently receiving votes in the AVCA Coaches poll, and a win against number one would have helped to skyrocket their position in the rankings.
The first set indicated that the Buffs seriousness about playing at a high level of intensity. CU’s first play was a kill by sophomore middle blocker Anna Pfefferle, this was immediately followed by a kill by senior outside hitter Alexis Austin. A long rally on the next play ended in the Trojans favor and a series of offense wins for USC help highlight the shear power they had at the net.
The Buffs were quick to realize the quickness of the lady Trojans offense and adjust their play to match the tempo. A long rally headed by the Simpson sisters helped junior libero Cierra Simpson record two digs on that play alone, and added a kill to her sister’s, setter Gabby Simpson’s stats. This rally helped the Buffs take the lead against the Trojans, and from there they didn’t look back.
CU continued through the set with great momentum and was able to frustrate the Trojans forcing them to call their second timeout of the match after gaining a four point lead. The Buffs would maintain this lead through the end of the first set to defeat and shock the Trojans.
Set two is often the most crucial set of the game, and this was proven to be true after the Trojans came firing back. The set remained consistently close with multiple ties and lead changes. Two back to back kills by junior middle blocker Katelyn Cuff and Austin helped the Buffs to take the lead, but a missed serve on the next play brought the Trojans back into the mix.
Kills by freshman middle blocker Naghede Abu and Gabby Simpson helped the Buffs to keep the game tied at 13.
After the Trojans went on a three point rally, it looked as though the set may be lost. A timeout called by the Buffs helped to restart the CU offense and the set went into extra points.
The game came down to the trojan’s senior outside hitter Samantha Bricio serving for the win. Bricio is one of the nations leaders in aces, but the Buffs allowed only two aces against the Trojans, and neither came from Bricio. USC did record the set win after 22 tied scores and eight lead changes.
The hard fought battle continued through the third set. The Lady Buffaloes keep the energy high in a set that looked almost identical to the previous.
Both teams were affected by silly errors after multiple net infractions and service blunders. The Buffaloes defense was tested multiple times, often the team was scrambling to regain control of the ball.
Major blocks by senior setter Nicole Edelman and Pfefferle kept the Buffs lead over USC, but the game was far from over, and like the last set, the winner would be decided after playing extra points.
Junior middle blocker Joslyn Hayes came through for the Buffs recording two back to back kills and a kill to end the set and give the Buffs the set win.
Sadly Colorado began to lose their endurance in the fourth set of the game. CU’s inability to make an offensive play meant the points earned were due mostly to a USC offensive error.
The Trojans pulled ahead, at one point leading the game by 11. It was clear that a fifth set would be forced by the ladies of Troy, but you have to go to five games to make it interesting, especially in a quest to take down number one.
Like the fourth set, the Buffs were just outplayed and Colorado’s stamina was continuing to waiver. Bricio’s power at the net was too much for CU’s defense to handle. USC completed their comeback to remain undefeated this season.
The Buffs, although visibly disappointed by the end result of the game, tested Southern California more than any other team has this season to make for an extremely well played game of volleyball.
Head Coach Liz Kritza was pleased with her players performance despite falling to the Trojans in the last two sets. “This is what volleyball is like in the best conference in the country,” said Kritza. “It’s not so much about hanging our head or hanging our hat it’s about doing our job and preparing and carrying ourselves at a high level and making sure we take the positives out of this and get rid of any sort of negative because it doesn’t help us,” she added.
Both Austin and Gabby Simpson recorded 21 kills on the night, and Cierra Simpson put up 31 digs
“When we really honed in on the game plan we were able to slow them down, but they are great players and they’re going to get there kills here and there,” said Cierra Simpson on discussing the defensive end of the game.
“They’re [players] not happy but we have to make sure that we turn the page and we take forward the positives and we get ready, our minds, right now, are on UCLA,” said head coach Kritza
Colorado takes on No. 12 UCLA at 12 P.M. this Sunday at Coors Event Center.
Contact CU Independent Sports Writer Olivia Butrymovich at olbu3713@colorado.edu.
