Contact CU Independent Sports Staff Writer Olivia Butrymovich at olbu3713@colorado.edu.
It was a rough week for the University of Colorado volleyball team as the Buffs traveled to California to take on No. 9 UCLA and No. 2 USC. Colorado came away empty-handed after both matches and now hold a 14-12 overall record with a 6-8 record in Pac-12 play.
CU’s first match, the Pac-12 game of the week, took place on Wednesday night against the UCLA Bruins. The Buffs were swept in three sets, 23-25, 24-26 and 17-25.
Senior outside hitter Alexis Austin led the team in the game with 13 kills and nine digs.
Junior right-side hitter Joslyn Hayes had one of her best games of the season, putting up nine kills and only one error on 22 total hits, earning a strong .364 hitting percentage for the night. Hayes also made two block assists and one solo block in the Buffs’ loss.
Colorado was able to challenge the Bruins during the first two sets of the game, staying within two points during both sets. The second of the three sets was forced to one extra point and proved to be the most well-fought set of the day.
This is the second time Colorado has faced UCLA this season. Colorado was handed a loss in three sets at home on Oct. 11. The Bruins currently sit third in the Pac-12 behind USC and Washington.
Friday night’s match against the USC Trojans unfolded much like Wednesday night’s as the Buffs lost in four sets, 12-25, 14-25, 27-25 and 23-25.
The Buffs were handed a beating in the first two sets, in both of which Colorado was unable to even put up 15 points against the Trojans. CU came back strong in the third set, forcing the set to extra points to take the set win after nine tied scores and two lead changes. The Buffs were able to keep it close in the fourth set, but USC pulled away late in the match to take away the W.
Although the Buffs lost the game, senior setter Nicole Edelman recorder her 4,000th career assist on the last point of the third set. Edelman is one of five Buffs to reach the milestone; the last was Ashley Nu’u (2003-06).
Edelman registered 32 total assists in the match, along with nine digs. Austin led the team in kills once again with 12, while sophomore right-side hitter Gabby Simpson and Hayes had 10 kills each.
Junior libero Cierra Simpson led the team defensively with 20 digs. Freshman middle blocker Naghede Abu contributed three block assists for the Buffs.
Colorado struggled on serve receiving Friday night after USC put up seven serving aces, six of which came from senior outside hitter Samantha Bricio. Bricio currently leads the nation in aces per set.
In the Buffs’ last meeting with the Trojans on Oct. 9, the former No. 1 and undefeated USC barely escaped the match unscathed. Colorado lost, but forced an exciting five-set brawl and kept Bricio from recording any aces during the match.
Since then, the 25-1 Trojans have moved from No. 1 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) rankings to No. 2 behind Penn State. USC recorded its first loss of the season to Pac-12 rival Washington last month, but still hold the No. 1 spot in the Pac-12 despite the loss.
The Buffs were outplayed both offensively and defensively this past weekend, allowing the Trojans 58 kills and 65 digs. The Buffs only put up 45 points with kills and only 48 digs against USC.
The Buffs are back in Boulder next week to take on No. 20 Arizona State on Thursday and No. 19 Arizona on Saturday. Both matches are set to start at 7 p.m.
