LINCOLN, Neb. ?The University of Colorado played its final Big 12 Conference match of the season against the University of Nebraska without senior right side Allie Griffin and dropped a three-game match tonight in Lincoln, Neb. in front of a sellout crowd of 4,113. The game scores were 19-30, 26-30, 19-30.
The Buffs fall to 14-11 overall and finished the Big 12 schedule with a 10-10 record. Nebraska improved to 28-0 overall and 19-0 in Big 12 action.
It was the first time Griffin has missed a match since her freshman year. Redshirt freshman Alex Buth started in Griffin's place and collected seven kills and nine digs. It was the first career start for Buth.
The first game was close until Jennifer Saleaumua took over to serve for Nebraska at 17-19. The Huskers added eight points on to its total before CU forced a side out on a kill from Nicole Carr. The Buffs were unable to recover and fell to Nebraska 30-19 in the first set. Colorado recorded just nine kills on the frame and hit .143. Nebraska dominated with 23 kills and a .526 attack percentage.
The Buffs pulled ahead of the Huskers in the second game and took a four-point lead at 15-11. Nebraska came back and regained the lead, but Colorado kept it close and tied it back up at 26 apiece. The Huskers took the next four points to close out the game. Colorado's offense was better in the second game as the Buffs hit .289 and recorded 16 kills. CU held Nebraska to a lower hitting percentage than in the first game (.359).
Colorado started off slow in the third game. Nebraska took a commanding 15-5 lead and showed no signs of slowing down. The Buffs fought back, but were unable to overcome the 10-point deficit as Nebraska finished off the game 30-19. CU notched a .333 hitting percentage, but NU hit a match-high .571 in the set.
Amber Sutherland led the Buffs with a match-high 14 kills and hit .360. She tallied her 14th double-double of the season with 10 digs. Ashley Nu'u handed out 36 assists and led the Buffs to a .252 hitting percentage. Lara Bossow recorded six kills on 13 errorless swings and notched the second-best hitting percentage for CU at .462.
Colorado will wrap up its regular season with a pair of matches at the University of Denver Thanksgiving Tournament. The Buffs will square off with No. 4 Florida on Friday, Nov. 25 and Northern Colorado on Saturday, Nov. 26. Both matches are set for 5 p.m. (MT) starts.
