Volleyball Enjoys Record-Setting 2014 Season

The Buffaloes volleyball program keeps getting better and better. The 2014 University of Colorado volleyball season was one of the best in program history with CU finishing 20-14 overall.

This is the first year since 2003 that the Buffs recorded 20 or more wins, with five of those coming against ranked opponents, a program regular-season first. CU also qualified for its second straight NCAA Tournament, its 18^th overall, and advanced to the second round for the second consecutive season.

The Buffs earned a 9-5 nonconference record, making the 27^th straight season with a .500 record or above. CU also put together an impressive 11-9 mark in Pac-12 Conference play, which tied for fourth in the league with perennial powerhouses Oregon and UCLA and was its highest league finish since joining the conference in 2011.

Colorado also earned national recognition in the AVCA poll during the last portion of the season. The Buffs were ranked as high as 18^th and were as low as 22^nd while in the poll. They finished the season ranked 21^st and were one of nine Pac-12 schools in the national rankings.

CU started the season at the Northern Illinois Invitational and lost a tough five-set Northwestern. The Buffs bounced back to take the next two matches against NIU and Presbyterian to end the weekend with a 2-1 record. Senior Taylor Simpson and junior Nicole Edelman were named to the all-tournament team.

The Buffs kept winning and recorded six straight victories at the Coors Events Center in Boulder to win the Omni Hotels Colorado Volleyball Invitational and Omni Classic the following two weekends at home. CU defeated Portland State, Georgia Southern and Pittsburgh to win the Omni Classic, and defeated Idaho State, Robert Morris (Pa.) and Butler to take home the Omni Invitational championship. With eight straight wins, the Buffs tied the fifth best win streak in CU history.

Simpson and sophomore Joslyn Hayes were named to the Omni Classic All-Tournament team, while Edelman was named the MVP. Sophomore Cierra Simpson and senior Neira Ortiz Ruiz were selected to the Omni Invitational All-Tournament Team and Taylor Simpson picked up the MVP honors.

The next weekend at the Creighton Classic in Omaha, Neb. didn't go so well for the Buffs. CU lost all three matches (South Dakota, No. 16 Illinois and Creighton), but Taylor Simpson still came away with another all-tournament nod.

The Buffs came back home ready to start the Pac-12 schedule, but things weren't going to be easy in the toughest conference in the country. The Buffs started the schedule against a feisty Utah squad at the CEC. CU took the first two sets from the Utes, but Utah rallied back to force a fifth set. The two teams battled in the final game, but the Buffs came out on top, winning the fifth set 15-12.

Colorado packed its bags and headed to Eugene, Ore. to face No. 13 Oregon. The Buffs put up a great battle, but ultimately couldn't pull off the upset, falling 3-1. CU returned home to face its second straight ranked opponent (out of six), No. 17 Arizona State. The Buffs fought back from a 2-0 deficit to force a fifth game, but couldn't complete the comeback and fell 15-13 in the final set.

CU wasn't happy with that loss and took it out on No. 14 Arizona two days later, sweeping the Wildcats in Boulder. The Buffs set back out on the road for a trip to Los Angeles, falling in the first match to No. 20 USC. Again CU wasn't happy and came back to defeat No. 17 UCLA two days later in four sets. That match was CU's first road win against a ranked Pac-12 opponent since joining the conference and it wouldn't be the last of the season.

The Buffs returned home to host top-ranked Stanford in front of a season-high home crowd of 2,846. CU took the first set (25-18) and led the match 2-1, but the Cardinal ultimately came back to defeat CU in five sets despite the Buffs best effort. The Buffs didn't get down and were able to take down California two days later in four sets to get back on the winning track.

The following weekend, CU won its second straight match, sweeping Washington State in Pullman, Wash. The Buffs went into Seattle to take on No. 3 Washington and they were ready. CU lost the first two sets by the narrowest of margins (28-26, 31-29), but weren't able to take a set from the formidable Huskies, losing the third game 25-14.

CU stayed on the road for the second straight week to start the second half of conference play and it was a great weekend in the desert. The Buffs upset No. 15 Arizona and No. 19 Arizona State, earning their first road sweep of ranked opponents in school history. The wins also marked the first time since 2005 that CU recorded wins against a pair of ranked opponents in back-to-back contests.

The weekend propelled the Buffs into the AVCA rankings, debuting at 21^st. Taylor Simpson was also named the Pac-12 Offensive and ESPNW Volleyball Player of the Week for her performance in guiding the team to those wins. She had 17 kills and 14 digs against UA and had 18 kills, 10 digs and seven blocks against ASU.

The Buffs came home to Boulder to host No. 15 UCLA and No. 19 USC, but weren't able to sustain the momentum and dropped both matches in three sets. CU stayed at home the next weekend and had a tough test with No. 2 and undefeated Washington coming to town, but Colorado was ready. The Buffs shocked the Huskies for the second straight year, handing them their first loss of the season. It took five sets, but CU pulled off the upset (27-25, 26-24, 17-25, 23-25, 15-11) for its fifth win against a ranked team. CU faced Washington State just two days later, and stayed on the winning track with another five set win.

CU won its third straight match on the road in Berkeley, Calif., sweeping Cal. The following night, No. 1 Stanford stopped the Buffs in their tracks, taking CU down in three sets. With just two matches left in the conference season, every match counted. The Buffs won their regular season home finale 3-1 against Oregon State, before falling to No. 23 Utah (3-1) in Salt Lake City.

The NCAA Tournament loomed and brought an interesting grouping for the Buffs. No. 9 Colorado State was chosen to host the tournament in Fort Collins, Colo. and Northern Colorado, Denver and CU were chosen to play in that part of the bracket. CU earned a 3-1 win against UNC in the first round to advance to the second round for the second straight year. CSU defeated DU, which brought a match-up of CU and CSU, the first meeting since 2010.

It was an epic battle between the rivals, with the Rams jumping out to a 2-0 lead, taking the first two sets 25-22, 25-21. The Buffs weren't ready to say good-bye to their season, and came stampeding back. CU took the following two sets 25-23, 26-24 to force a fifth and deciding game. The Buffs had set point at 14-13, but CSU rallied back to take the following three points to win the set 16-14.

During the season, several records were broken. Taylor Simpson broke CU's single season kills record, which had stood since 1997 (528), with 591 kills. She also had 10 matches during the season with 20 or more kills that also broke CU's record of nine matches in a single season. In three of those matches, she had 29 or more kills. Another Simpson, Cierra, broke CU's single season digs record from 1990 (490), picking up 519 to become the first Buff to record 500 in a single season.

Taylor Simpson led the Buffs offensively, averaging 4.65 kills per set which ranked 15^th in the NCAA, fifth in the Pac-12, while hitting .298 during the season. She was also 15^th in the NCAA in points per set, sixth in the conference, with 5.18. Junior Alexis Austin ranked second on the team with 303 kills (3.19 kills per set-¡) and Ortiz Ruiz was third with 227 kills (1.99 kills per set). Junior Katelyn Cuff led the Buffs with a .339 hitting percentage with 142 kills and 40 errors on 301 attacks.

Edelman surpassed the 3,000-career assists mark during the year, adding 844 during the season (7.54 assists per set) which was eighth in the Pac-12. Freshman Gabby Simpson split time setting with Edelman and recorded 4.88 per set (639).

Cierra Simpson led the Buffs defensively, averaging 3.93 digs per set, the 10^th best mark in the Pac-12. Taylor Simpson ranked second on the team with 2.71 digs per set and Edelman was third with 2.03 digs per set.

Freshman Anna Pfefferle led CU at the net, posting 138 blocks, 16 solo and 122 assists. Her 1.10 blocks per set ranked eighth in the league, while her 1.15 blocks per set in league-only matches ranked fifth. Cuff was second for the Buffs with 0.75 blocks per set.

The Buffs earned a lot of well-deserved recognition for their hard work. Taylor Simpson was named CU's first ever AVCA First Team All-American after being named to the AVCA All-Pacific South Region First Team. She was also named to the All-Pac-12 Team and garnered CU Athlete of the Week honors six times. Austin was selected to the All-Pac-12 First Team as well and both she and Edelman picked up one CU Athlete of the Week honor. Two of CU's freshmen, Pfefferle and Gabby Simpson, were named to the All-Pac-12 Freshman honorable mention team.

Several Buffs were recognized for their accomplishments off the court. Senior Kelsey English, Edelman and Cierra Simpson received honorable mention honors on the Pac-12 All-Academic team.

At the year-end banquet, several more awards were handed out. Taylor Simpson was named CU's Offensive MVP, while Cierra Simpson was honored as the Defensive MVP. Pfefferle and Gabby Simpson shared the Most Improved award. Sophomore Katherine Hawkins and Edelman earned the Shoulder to Shoulder award (the player who is committed to the team's success at all times and is a selfless individual who provides constant support to all teammates in support of team ideals and goals) and senior Rachel Hargis was named the winner of the Golden Buffalo Award (the player who demonstrates great work ethic and takes personal responsibility for continual progress and improvement).

The Buffs graduate four players from the 2014 team, but the future looks very bright with 10 letterwinners returning next season.