Buffs Sneak Past K-State

Saturday, October 7

Manhattan, Kan.

6 p.m.

Colorado

Kansas State

Photo by: Chip Bromfield, ProMotion Ltd.

October 07, 2006 | Volleyball

By: Linda Sprouse, Assistant SID

MANHATTAN, Kan. ? The University of Colorado (9-5, 5-2 Big 12) blanked Kansas State (8-9, 0-7 Big 12) 31-29, 30-28, 34-32 on Saturday, Oct. 7 at the Ahern Field House in Manhattan, Kan. The Buffs needed extra points to secure the win in two of the three games.

It is the first win for Colorado on K-State's home court since Nov. 2, 1999 when the Buffs won in five games. The win for CU kept K-State looking for its first Big 12 victory in 2006. The Wildcats are currently on an eight-match losing streak.

Junior Amber Sutherland exploded in the second game with eight of her 18 kills. She hit .146 on 48 attempts with 11 errors.

Colorado hit .206 in the match and held KSU to .189. The Buffaloes notched 52 kills on 136 swings. CU recorded 24 errors, but KSU put up 11.5 blocks. The Wildcats notched 46 kills on the night with 21 errors on 132 attacks.

Senior Ashley Nu'u handed out 40 assists and recorded six kills of her own for a .385 attack percentage. Senior Austin Zimmerman recorded a match-high .500 with five kills on 10 swings. Sophomore Alex Buth was the only other Buff to hit above .300 with nine kills on 19 attacks (.316).

Junior Kristen Karlik picked up a match-best 17 digs, averaging 5.67 per game. Buth added nine and sophomore Callie Webster notched eight. Nu'u and Sutherland each recorded seven. In total, CU tallied 55 digs, 10 more than the Wildcats.

Zimmerman and Nu'u each put up four block assists and sophomore Lauren Schaefer notched a pair. The Buffs tallied 6.5 blocks in the match, all coming from block assists.

Colorado was also serving well, averaging 2.00 aces per game. Zimmerman and Buth each smoked two past the Wildcats and Nu'u and Sutherland added the other two.

The Buffaloes return to the friendly confines of the Coors Events Center on Wednesday, Oct. 11 for a contest against Iowa State. The tilt is set for a 7 p.m. start.