OFFENSE ATTACK SHINES IN BUFFS SWEEP OF RHODE ISLAND

Saturday, August 30

Orono, Maine

9:00 a.m.

Colorado

Rhode Island

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

August 30, 2003 | Volleyball

By: CUBuffs.com

By Troy Andre

Assistant SID

ORONO, Maine ? Colorado used a strong offensive attack and solid serving to down Rhode Island in three games, 30-15, 30-24, 32-30, on Saturday at the Maine Sea-Sun Invitational.

The Buffaloes improve to 2-1 overall, while URI falls to 0-3.

CU hit .400 for the match, recording 60 kills with just 16 errors on 110 attacks. It marked the first time the Buffs have hit .400 or above in nearly a year. The last time CU achieved the feat was against Maine, on Sept. 14, 2002, in Boulder. The Buffs hit .478 in that three-game sweep over the Black Bears.

Rhode Island hit well, .228 for the match, but struggled with passing and defense. The Buffaloes had 10 service aces, most of which keyed rallies that allowed CU to build comfortable leads. The Rams hit a solid .333 in the tightly contested third game, but the Buffs still maintained their edge by hitting an outstanding .410 in the third and final frame.

'This by no means was a defensive battle,' CU head coach Pi'i Aiu said. 'Neither team dug the ball well, but we did hit a little better and dig a little better than them.'

Sophomore outside hitters Maragda Santillana and Nicole Carr each had double digits in both kills and digs. Santillana led all players with 16 kills and registered 10 digs. She hit .483, her best since a .500 effort at Texas last fall. Carr, who served 12 straight points in the middle of game one, had 12 kills, 14 digs and three service aces. Carr has tallied double-doubles in kills and digs in all three matches this season.

Senior Monique Gerlach hit .700 for the match, breaking her previous career high of .647 set against St. Louis on Sept. 6, 2002. Gerlach had 15 kills with only one error on 20 attacks.

'We've done some good things this weekend, but we've got to continue to clean some things up,' Aiu said. 'We are working hard and fighting so we've got that to build on.'

CU will finish action at the Maine Sea-Sun Invitational against the host Black Bears on Sunday at 12 p.m. MDT.