The University of Colorado women’s volleyball team endured two heartbreaking losses this weekend as they looked to take down two ranked opponents on the golden coast. The Buffs lost a close one to No. 12 UCLA Friday night, and repeated the trend on Saturday to No. 24 USC.
Colorado endured a five-set brawl, only to come up short against the Bruins on Friday night. The Buffs lost 16-25, 16-25, 25-19, 25-19 and 9-15.
Things did not start out well for CU. The Buffs managed only 11 kills on 37 attacks in the first set. UCLA was more productive with 19 kills on 36 attacks. The second set was similar for Colorado at the net. After a more proficient attack, the Buffs were still only successful on 12 attacks.
After two back-to-back set losses, the Buffs’ rallied in the third and fourth sets. Colorado’s defense held the Bruins to only 11 kills in each of the third and fourth sets. CU’s own offense excelled with 17 and 14 kills in the two sets.
In the fifth set, a scramble to fifteen, the Buffs lost a 3-1 lead. The Bruins plowed forward to win the final set and the match.
Three Buffs recorded double-digit attack numbers against UCLA: junior outside hitter Stephanie Shadley, sophomore outside hitter Alexa Smith and junior setter Gabby Simpson, who led the Buffs’ offense with 15, 18 and 10 kills, respectively.
Sophomore middle blocker Naghede Abu had a huge night defensively at the net. Abu recorded six block assists, as well as two solo blocks to help add to the team’s block total of 13. Senior libero Cierra Simpson also had a huge night in the back court for Colorado, digging a team high of 24 balls.
The overall effort from the Buffs’ was somehow not enough. CU recorded 60 kills to UCLA’s 69, and the Bruins tallied 15 team blocks against Colorado.
A tough loss to swallow, Friday night was overshadowed by an even more disappointing defeat dealt by the USC Trojans. Colorado lost in a clean sweep: 23-25, 22-25 and 21-25.
Note these sets were close, but the Buffs were unable to gain some ground against the Trojans. Colorado is now 0-14 all-time against the Trojans.
Colorado recorded 44 kills during the match, three more than the opposition. It was the serving and the reconvening errors on the CU side of the net that gave USC the edge. Colorado committed 11 service errors in the three sets. The Trojans also managed five serving aces against the Buffs.
USC established a solid block against Colorado, recording eight total team blocks to the Buffs’ five. Colorado has continually struggled against the oppositions block in games in past weeks.
Smith and Simpson were once again the leaders for the Buffalo offense. Smith recorded 11 kills on 26 attacks with only six errors. Simpson managed 12 kills on 17 attacks with only one error, giving her an incredible hitting percentage of .647. Statistically, the Buffs’ played a better game of volleyball than the Trojans, however, it was the varying degree of team errors that was the team’s downfall.
After suffering two losses this weekend, the Buffs’ are now 12-10 overall and 4-8 in conference play. The Pac-12 conference continually proves to be the most difficult conference in women’s college volleyball. With seven ranked teams and two others receiving votes (including Colorado), the Buffs’ struggles within the conference play are understandable.
Colorado will look to redeem itself next weekend back in Boulder. CU takes on their final of four ranked teams No. 17 Stanford on Friday, Nov. 4.
Contact CU Independent Assistant Sports Editor Olivia Butrymovich at olbu3713@colorado.edu.
