Buffs fall to No.6 UCLA

The CU women’s volleyball team put up a good fight against No. 6 UCLA on Friday at the John Wooden Center in Los Angeles, but fell in three sets (25-20, 25-16, 26-24).

Junior Jessica Aschenbrenner, 13, receives a serve in the final set in Colorado’s game match against ASU. The Buffs lost to UCLA on Friday. (CU Indpendent/Amy Leder)

Freshman Alexis Austin led the Buffs in kills for the seventh straight match, recording 12 total. Sophomore Neira Ortiz Ruiz added seven, while freshman Nicole Edelman, junior Nikki Lindow and redshirt sophomore Ana Pantovic each had four. As a team, CU recorded a total of 34 kills but also had 22 errors on 97 swings, hitting .124.

On the defensive end, the Buffs earned 36 digs compared to UCLA’s 35. Freshman Chelsey Keoho had a match-high 16 digs and Edelman added five.

Tabi Love of UCLA had a match-high 14 kills and Rachel Kidder had 13. The Bruins committed only 14 errors on 101 attacks, hitting .317.

In the first set, UCLA was off to a early 16-10 lead, forcing CU to take its first timeout. The Buffs returned and went on a 4-1 run, tightening the gap to within three (17-14). This caused UCLA to call a timeout, but then Bruins came back for a 20-14 lead. After CU used its second timeout, some momentum was gained, but the Bruins took the set, 25-20.

The Bruins had a early lead in the second set until the Buffs took charge, going up 10-7. The Bruins came back though, regaining the lead at 14-12. UCLA maintained a solid lead and finished off the set by taking six of the final nine points, winning 25-16.

In the final set, UCLA led again until the Buffs tied the score at 10-10. From there, the lead changed back and forth until the score was tied at 17. CU had a chance at a set point (24-22), but UCLA rallied back, taking the next four points and winning the set 26-24 to take the victory.

The Buffs’ record is now 13-8 on the season and 3-6 in the Pac-12.

The Lady Buffs remain in Los Angeles for a match on Sunday against No.7 USC. The match will be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Network at 12 p.m. MT.

Statistics courtesy of the CU Sports Information Department.

Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jessica Malknecht at Jessica.malknecht@colorado.edu.