DENVER ? Fourth-ranked Florida handed Colorado a three-game loss (17-30, 19-30, 24-30) here at Hamilton Gymnasium on the campus of the University of Denver. The Buffs fell to 14-12 overall while Florida improved to 29-2.
Florida was got off to a quick start, leading the first game 10-3. The Gators increased their lead to 19-10 before CU used its first timeout. Florida didn't let up and took the frame 30-17. CU collected just 12 kills in the game and hit .250. The Gators recorded 21 kills and just two errors to hit .576 in the set.
The second game started off a little more even. CU tied it up three times before Florida took a 12-8 lead and forced a Buffalo timeout. The Gators ran away with the game, finishing 30-19. Amber Sutherland hammered five kills for CU and hit .500 in the game. The Buffs hit just .200 in the game, while Florida amassed a .517 hitting percentage. Jane Collymore led the Gators with six kills.
The Buffs saw their first lead of the match in the third game. CU went ahead at 4-3 and 13-12 and both times Florida came back to even the score the next point. The Gators eventually got out to a 24-18 lead, but CU fired off three straight points and forced Florida to use a timeout. The Gators came back with a 5-2 run. Colorado fought off the first match point, but was unable to comeback for the five-point deficit and fell 30-24. CU tallied 13 kills and hit .188 and held the Gators to a .282 attack percentage.
Sutherland led the Buffs with 13 kills, seven digs and hit .407. Ashley Nu'u recorded three kills on six swings while hitting .500. She led the Buffs to a .212 attack percentage as Nu'u passed out 36 assists. Lauren Schaefer and Allie Griffin each notched seven kills.
Collymore recorded a match-high 17 kills and hit .414 for the Gators. Florida hit .446 in the match.
Colorado will wrap up its regular season with a match against Northern Colorado on Saturday, Nov. 26. The match is set for a 5 p.m. (MT) start at Hamilton Gymnasium on the campus of DU for the second day of the Wells Fargo Thanksgiving Classic.
