Colorado University Athletics
Simpson, Spruce Named CU Athletes Of The Week
September 04, 2014 | Football, General, Volleyball
BOULDER - The University of Colorado senior outside hitter Taylor Simpson (volleyball) and junior wide receiver Nelson Spruce (football) earned CU Athlete of the Week honors Thursday for their play during the week of August 25-31.
Simpson led the Buffs to a 2-1 record in the opening week of the season. She tallied 51 kills in 13 sets, averaging 3.92 kills per set and added 34 digs and five blocks on the weekend. She notched 15 kills and hit .302 in a loss to Northwestern, then tied a career-high of 23 kills against Northern Illinois and added 13 kills against Presbyterian, both wins.
Spruce had his third career 100-yard receiving game by catching seven passes for 104 yards and both of CU's touchdowns in 31-17 loss to Colorado State at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Both of Spruce's touchdowns were momentum changers, his first a 54-yard heave from sophomore Sefo Liufau on the Buffs first drive to give them a 7-0 lead. The second TD was a spectacular one-handed grab on the first drive of the second half after the Buffs forced a turnover and drove the length of the field.
This was the first award of the season for both athletes.
Also nominated for this week's honor: Carly Bolyard (soccer), Annie Kelly (cross country) and Adam Peterman (cross country).
Bolyard, senior, recorded four shots and scored two goals over the weekend in the UNLV Nike Invitational. On Friday, the senior from Louisville, Colo. notched two goals against UNLV leading the Buffs to a 3-0 victory and their first road win of the season. Bolyard was also named to the UNLV Nike Invitational All-Tournament Team and named the tournament's Outstanding Offensive Player for her performance. The Buffaloes went 1-1 in two matches and took second place in the Invitational.
Kelly, redshirt freshman, won the women's 5.8-kilometer race at the CU Time Trial on Saturday, keeping with the CU tradition of letting the youngest runner in the lead pack win the race. Kelly finished in 22 minutes, 5.1 seconds. She crossed just in front of junior Carrie Verdon (22:05.4), who was racing unattached and junior Jenny DeSouchet (22:05.6).
Peterman, redshirt freshman, took home the title on the men's race on Saturday at the CU Time Trial as the team stuck to the tradition of allowing the youngest person in the lead pack to win the race. The men's team took the top seven spots, although two of the Buffs ran unattached. The top five crossed the finish at 25:55. Peterman was first in 25:55.0 and senior Jake Hurysz was second (25:55.2). Sophomore Zach Perrin (25:55.4) and senior Morgan Pearson (25:55.7) were third and fourth, respectively and ran unattached. Junior Pierce Murphy (25:55.9) was fifth, junior Ammar (25:56.5) Moussa placed sixth and senior Blake Theroux (26:03.6) was seventh.
