CU volleyball defeats Albany at Omni Hotels Colorado Volleyball Classic
A dog’s got nothing on a buffalo.
In a four-set match at the Coors Events Center in Boulder Sunday afternoon, the Colorado volleyball team defeated the Albany Great Danes, 3-1 (30-28, 25-19, 25-22, 25-22.)
During the first set, the Great Danes proved they wouldn’t be an easy team to beat. CU gained an early 22-18 lead, but Albany came back to tie the score at 23. It wasn’t until the Buffs pulled ahead 30-28 that the set came to a close.
The Great Danes retaliated in the second set, building a 21-15 lead. Colorado was able to score four more times before the end of the set, but failed to close the gap, losing the set 25-19.
The two teams were neck in neck for most of the third set, reaching a tie at 15-15. Colorado then picked up the pace, taking seven of the next eight points and gaining a 21-16 lead. The Buffs fought off Albany’s attempt at a rally, taking the set 25-22.
The Great Danes came close to edging Colorado in the final set, keeping pace with the Buffs up to a 23-23 tie. CU freshman Emily Alexis then stepped up with a kill, and an Albany error finally gave Colorado the win at 25-22.
As usual, the Buffs were led offensively by junior Kerra Schroeder with 20 kills.
Colorado had three other players reach double digits in kills, with freshman Kelsey English adding 12 and Alexis and senior Anicia Santos contributing 10 each.
On the defensive end, sophomore Megan Beckwith led with 23 digs, while Schroeder and Alexis added 11 each. Schroeder’s double-double was her third this year, and Alexis’s 11 digs were a career best.
“Normally we’re recognizing [Schroeder] for her offensive performance,” Coach Liz Kritza said in a news release. “It’s good that on the other side of the ball she’s able to progress as well.”
As a team, the Buffs had 64 total kills, while Albany recorded 66. The Buffs hit .278 and were able to hold the Great Danes to .247.
The victory brings Colorado’s record to 3-1 overall, or 3-2 including the loss in the scrimmage against the Slovenian National Team in an exhibition game Friday.
The Buffs will travel this weekend to the Rose Hill Classic at Fordham University in Bronx, N.Y. There, they will take on Albany a second time.
“We’ll be expecting a much tougher opponent next time,” Kritza said. “They’re going to be out for a little bit of revenge.”
Before the rematch against Albany, CU will play Siena College on Friday, Sep. 9. The match against Albany and another against Fordham will be that Saturday, and the final match of the tournament, against St. John’s University, will be Sunday.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Caryn Maconi at Caryn.maconi@colorado.edu
