BOULDER ? Juniors Allie Griffin and Nicole Carr combined for 45 kills, 24 digs and nine blocks to lead Colorado past Texas Tech 30-19, 32-30, 28-30, 30-28 in a Big 12 Conference match Saturday evening at the Coors Events Conference Center.
Colorado snaps its four-match losing streak, improving to 11-9 overall and 6-7 in league play. Texas Tech falls to 8-11 overall and 4-9 in the Big 12.
Griffin tied a season-high with 25 kills and added 14 digs and five blocks, tying a personal-best with 28.5 points. Carr also hit the 20-kill plateau for the second time in her career, recording exactly 20 to tie a career-high set as a freshman in 2002 against Texas-Arlington. Carr also had a personal-best four blocks and 10 digs en route to her 23rd career double-double.
“We made some bone-headed plays at the end, but we did a really good job of battling through the games,” CU head coach Pi'i Aiu said. “All three of the last three games were decided by two points and for us to win two of those three is a testament to the type of team we are.”
After winning game one rather swiftly at 30-19, CU fell behind 21-15 in game two before a 14-6 run gave the Buffs a 29-27 lead. Colorado couldn't hold, as the Red Raiders scored three straight to have a game-point of their own at 30-29. Consecutive kills by Carr and sophomore Amber Nu'u put the Buffs back up and Nu'u closed the game with an ace. Nu'u, who started her second match of the season in place of injured Maragda Santillana (shoulder), had five kills and a season-high 12 digs.
Texas Tech trailed 20-15 in game three, but fought back to send the match to a fourth game behind the hitting of Kelly Johnson and Amy Charlebois. Johnson had a match-high 27 kills while Carlebois had 12.
Griffin took over in game four recording 10 kills including Colorado's final three points to close out the match. Her 25 kill, 28.5 point effort matches her output at Oklahoma on Oct. 16.
Sophomore Austin Zimmerman had 11 kills and tied a career-high with seven blocks. Freshman Therese Vi?al had a personal-best 15 digs.
Colorado will continue its Big 12 schedule by hosting No. 10 Texas on Wednesday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. in the CECC.
