Buffs Send Off Seniors With A Win Against Baylor

Wednesday, November 22

Boulder, Colo.

7 p.m.

Colorado

Baylor

November 22, 2006 | Volleyball

By: Linda Sprouse, Assistant SID

BOULDER ? Mallori Gibson recorded a career-high 28 kills and led CU past Baylor 30-28, 23-30, 28-30, 30-23, 15-12, on Wednesday, Nov. 22 at the Coors Events Center. It was the final home match for four Buffs: Lara Bossow, Amber and Ashley Nu'u and Austin Zimmerman.

The Buffs improved to 16-10 overall and 12-7 in the Big 12. CU is now 11-3 at home this season, the best home record for the Buffs since going 12-2 in 2001.

CU had to come from behind to win the match, trailing two games to one. It is the fourth time this season CU has comeback from that deficit and the second time against Baylor this season. The Buffs have been pushed to five games nine times this year and are 7-2 with their only two losses against Oklahoma.

“It's good and it's bad, obviously,” head coach Pi'i Aiu said about playing down 2-1. “It would be nice to win some of these games in three, but if it takes five, it takes five. And I think our kids show some great heart when their backs are to the wall and they tend to fight a little harder and play a little harder. If that's what it takes, then that is what it takes.”

Ashley Nu'u dished out 65 assists in the win and led the Buffs to a .261 hitting percentage. Nu'u is just 35 assists away from third on CU's career list. Colorado recorded 84 kills in the victory. The Buffs recorded 199 attacks. The Bears notched 72 kills and hit .247.

“This was a good win for our team tonight, but it was also necessary,” Ashley Nu'u said.

Amber Sutherland hammered 25 kills for the sixth time this season. She hit .279 in the match. Zimmerman added 12 kills and hit .400; while Alex Buth tallied 10 kills.

Colorado held the edge in digs, picking up 67 compared to BU's 59. Kristen Karlik recorded 22 digs. It was the eighth time this season she has recorded over 20 digs. Sutherland added 11. Ashley Nu'u and Buth each picked up nine in the win.

The Buffs put up 13.0 blocks, just three less than Baylor. Lauren Schaefer led the Buffs with six, two solos and four assists. Buth added four assists, while Zimmerman put up a solo and three assists. . Ashley Nu'u also recorded three assists.

Colorado hit .308 in the first game. Sutherland and Gibson each recorded five kills in the game. Sutherland hit .385 with zero errors on 13 swings. Buth tallied four. Karlik picked up eight digs in the set. The Buffs led just twice in the frame, trailing most of the match. The second time CU took the lead was at 28-27. Colorado took two of the next three points to win the game.

Despite 21 kills in the second game, CU fell 23-30. The Buffs hit .317 behind seven kills from Gibson and five from Sutherland. CU recorded a match-low .163 attack percentage in the third game. The Buffs hit 18 kills with 10 errors on 49 swings. Sutherland led the frame with seven kills.

The Buffs used a 9-1 run in the fourth game to go up 20-10. They hit .292 and held the Bears under .100 (.051). Once against Sutherland recorded seven kills. Gibson added six.

Colorado closed out the match and the final game with nine kills, four coming from Gibson. Schaefer and Zimmerman each put up a block solo and Schaefer and Buth added two assists.

CU will wrap up its regular season with a match against Iowa State in Ames, Iowa. The match is slated for a 1 p.m. start. The Cyclones are currently 19-10 overall and are 11-8 in the Big 12.

--COLORADO VOLLEYBALL--