Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
18-12, 10-8Pac-12
Stanford
28-0, 18-0Pac-12
Top-Ranked Stanford Holds Off No. 19 Buffs
November 23, 2014 | Volleyball
STANFORD, Calif. — Top-ranked Stanford defeated the No. 19 University of Colorado volleyball team 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-12) on Saturday night in Maples Pavilion.
The loss ended the Buffaloes (18-12, 10-8 Pac-12) three-match win streak despite the University of Colorado's best attempts to upset the undefeated Cardinal. Stanford improved to 28-0 (18-0 Pac-12).
Taylor Simpson recorded a team-high 12 kills and picked up 10 digs for her 19th double-double of the season. Alexis Austin had eight kills and Gabby Simpson tallied seven kills while hitting a team-best .188.
The Cardinal held CU to a .086 hitting percentage with 31 kills and 22 errors on 105 attacks. SU hit .353 in the match with 45 kills and nine errors on 102 swings.
The Buffs picked up 42 digs, just four less than SU (46). Cierra Simpson tallied 11 digs for CU, while Gabby Simpson and Gwen Herring each added six digs.
Jordan Burgess recorded 13 kills for the Cardinal and hit .542 with no errors on 24 attacks. She also had a double-double with 14 digs.
CU got out to a 4-1 lead in the first set before SU came back to even it at 6-6. The Cardinal increased the lead to 10-7, but the Buffs stayed close and got within a point at 16-15. Stanford recorded the following four points (20-15), but Austin tallied a kill at that point to side out for the Buffs (20-16). The Cardinal quickly took the ball back and went on to take the set 25-17.
The Cardinal took the lead of set two from the beginning and although CU would even the score six times, the Buffs never had a lead in the game. The Buffs kept the set close, but the last tie came at 10-10. The Cardinal recorded a 6-0 run at that point, which would prove to be too large of the deficit for CU to get back in the set. Stanford finished the game 25-18.
SU used the momentum from the first two sets to take a 13-1 lead in set three. The Buffs tried to get the offense going, but the Cardinal showed why it is undefeated this season as SU took control of the game and didn't let go. CU got within 10 points, but that was the closest they would get. SU won the game 25-13 and hit .462.
CU returns home to the Coors Events Center for its final regular season home match on Wednesday, Nov. 26, against Oregon State. The match is slated to start at 3 p.m. The Buffs will honor their four seniors: Kelsey English, Rachel Hargis, Neira Ortiz Ruiz and Taylor Simpson.
