Buffs Blank Baylor Bears

Wednesday, November 27

Boulder, Colo.

TBA

Colorado

Baylor

November 26, 2002 | Volleyball

By: CUBuffs.com

The University of Colorado volleyball team (15-14, 9-10 Big 12) beat Baylor (9-21, 2-17 Big 12) 30-22, 30-25, 30-26 Wednesday night at the Coors Events Conference Center to finish their 2002 season with a win as the Buffs cling to the chance of receiving a NCAA post-season bid.

"That's a good win for us to get tonight," Colorado head coach Pi'i Aiu said. "The win tonight puts us in position to play for something Saturday at Kansas. We need to get our kids excited in Kansas, and hopefully we'll have a shot at the post-season."

Everyone in a Colorado jersey saw playing time in the senior night match as senior middle blocker Meghan Barkman powered the Buffalo offense with 13 kills on the night. Junior middle Monique Gerlach hit in double-digit kill numbers for the 23rd time this season as she finished the match with 12 kills, four blocks, and a .333 hitting percentage.

"This is going to be a hard class to say goodbye to," Aiu said. "They have impacted this team, the school, and their classmates immensely. This is our first big-time recruiting class to lose, as these guys were ranked sixth coming in as freshmen. They're just really great girls. We're definitely going to feel this loss."

Daniele L. Lloreda led all hitters with 17 kills in the match for Baylor.

Colorado hit .217 as a team with 10 blocks on the night and seven service aces and only one serving error. Baylor hit .120 on the night with 10 blocks, two service aces, and seven service errors in the match.

Colorado has received 11 consecutive NCAA berths and made 13 straight post-season appearances.

"I think this win gave us a little push heading in to Kansas," Barkman said. "We don't want to be the class that doesn't make it to the tournament. I know we can do it. It's in our reach, we just have to play our best."

The Buffaloes will now hit the road to face the Kansas Jayhawks in Lawrence on Sat., Nov. 30 to close out the 2002 regular season. The NCAA will announce 2002 tournament bids Sunday night at 7 p.m.