#3 Washington Knocks Buffs Out of NCAA Tourney

Friday, December 1

Boulder, Colo.

7 p.m.

Colorado

Washington

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

December 01, 2006 | Volleyball

By: Linda Sprouse, Assistant SID

BOULDER ? For the first time in school history, Colorado lost a postseason match at the Coors Events Center as the Buffs fell to No. 3 Washington 15-30, 30-22, 26-30, 24-30 on Friday night. The Buffs finished the season 17-12 and 12-4 at the CECC. CU now owns a 6-1 record at the CECC when playing in the tournament.

This was the first time CU had advanced past the first round of the tournament since 2001. CU lost to Colorado State in 2001 in the second round to end the season.

“I'm really proud of how we fought tonight,” Colorado Head Coach Pi'i Aiu said. “We got in as many long rallies in a match as I've seen us do all season. We came up a little bit short, we congratulate Washington and I congratulate the senior class including Amber Nu'u who isn't out here with us. They had a great career and I know they wanted to keep on playing.”

Alex Buth and Amber Sutherland each notched 12 kills in the loss. Colorado hit just .130 in the match; while the Huskies hit .246. Buth recorded a team-best .243 attack percentage. Mallori Gibson added 11 kills and Austin Zimmerman tallied six.

Ashley Nu'u dished out 45 of CU's 50 assists in the match.

Kristen Karlik tied a career-high with 26 digs. Ashley Venhorst also notched a career-high with 10 digs. CU recorded 73 digs compared to 60 from the Huskies.

The Buffs put up 13.0 blocks. For the second time this season, Austin Zimmerman recorded 10 blocks. She put up one solos and nine assists. Buth added five assists.

“We got on them a little bit,” Aiu said. “You come out in a match like this and you play Washington, you play the defending National Champions, the Pac-10 runner-up and there is so much going through their heads that has nothing to do with volleyball. Different teams respond differently, and our team has responded well when we've gotten on them, so you either talk them through it or you get on them. We jumped on them a little bit and they responded and then it was just kids playing volleyball and that is what you want to get to every match, where you aren't playing anybodies reputation you are just playing volleyball with six other kids.”

CU struggled in the first game, hitting -.048. The Buffs mustered 10 kills, but recorded 12 errors on 42 swings. Sutherland led CU with three kills. Gibson and Bossow each tallied a pair. Callie Webster picked up a team-best six digs and Karlik recorded five.

The Buffs got back on their feet in the second game. CU used a 7-1 run to make the score 13-7 and would lead by as much as 10 at 29-19 before closing the game at 30-22 after UW rattled off three straight points. CU hit .344 and Buth led the way with four kills.

Colorado dropped the third game by a close margin of 30-26. Sutherland rattled off four kills and Amber Nu'u notched three; hitting a team-best .429 in the frame.

Buth led the Buffs in the final game, posting five kills on 10 attacks. She also hit .500. Karlik picked up nine digs.

It was the final match for Ashley and Amber Nu'u, Zimmerman and Bossow.

“It is difficult,” Ashley Nu'u said. “I didn't think it would be this difficult. I think it's because these girls are so awesome and amazing teammates. I think that we left it all on the court tonight. I knew that we wanted it, that is why it is so bittersweet right now. I think we thought it was in our grasp, and it was. Washington is a great team. I think that they will go far in the tournament. I think we battled tonight, but unfortunately it didn't go our way. It wasn't a lack of heart.”

--COLORADO VOLLEYBALL--