Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Central Florida
Colorado Fends Off Knights
September 01, 2007 | Volleyball
With the win, CU improved to 2-2 on the season while UCF fell to 2-5.
“I think we are starting to gel better as a team,” Schaefer said now that CU had won two in a row. “Everything is flowing right now. It's hard to have new people on the court because you don't know what they are like, but we are starting to get used to each other and things are working much better.”
CU has been playing with up to three freshmen on the court at the same time in middle blockers Schylur Edelman, Rosie Steinhaus and Ellen Henry; along with Kelsey Loop and Kaitlyn Burkett who are starting this season after being reserves last year.
Burkett led the charge 48 assists to direct the Buffs to a .339 hitting percentage. Burkett added three kills herself and hit .600 while serving up two aces, picking up four digs and adding two blocks.
Schaefer hit .480, a team-best. Alex Buth recorded 12 kills on 23 swings to hit .391. She recorded another double-double by picking up 10 digs. Mallori Gibson added 11 kills for the Buffs and
Callie Webster also picked up 10 digs as CU recorded 44 compared to the Knight's 31.
UCF hit .210 in the match with 36 kills, 20 fewer than CU.
The Buffs won the first game 30-26. CU took the lead at 2-1 and never looked back although the Knights got back within three points a few times. The Buffs recorded a .179 hitting percentage, slightly better the UCF's .143. CU tallied 17 kills on 39 swings with 10 errors while UCF recorded 12 kills on 35 swings with seven errors.
“I thought we were a little disjointed in game one,” head coach Pi'i Aiu said. “I thought we were working hard, but things just weren't flowing yet. That's one of the things you are going to have with a young team and I think if we can keep the level of effort up, then things are going to turn for us.
“You have to learn to maintain your effort and your focus and since we have a young team that is something they are learning.”
The third game was also tight in the beginning, but once again, the Buffs used a 6-0 run to extend their lead to 20-11. CU took a 10-point lead, but UCF tried to close the gap, getting back within six before CU finished the game and the match with a kill from Gibson. The Buffs hit .375 in the game with a match-high 20 kills.
In earlier action at the tournament, No. 11 California defeated UNC Wilmington 30-16, 30-14, 30-13. Angie Pressey led the Bears with 11 kills, six digs and hit .785. Kat Reilly put up seven blocks, one solo and six assists.
UNCW was paced by Lindsey Strucko with seven kills. The Seahawks hit -.050 in the contest.
The Colorado Invitational will end action Sunday, Sept. 2, with a match against No. 11 California and
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