Buffs Continue Four-Match Road Swing In Pacific Northwest

BOULDER — The University of Colorado volleyball team continues its four-match road trip this week, traveling to the Pacific Northwest for matches against No. 22 Oregon and Oregon State. The Ducks will host the Buffs on Friday, Oct. 2, at 9 p.m. MT, in Eugene, Ore. Colorado will then head to Corvallis to play OSU on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 12 p.m. MT.

Both contests will be broadcast live on Pac-12 Network. Rick Burk will provide the play-by-play for both matches. Mike Dodd is the color for the Oregon match, while Elizabeth Moreau will be the color for the Oregon State contest.

Colorado is 8-6 (0-2 Pac-12) after starting the Pac-12 season with a pair of losses to Utah and No. 6 Washington last week.

Senior Alexis Austin leads the Buffs with 3.86 kills per set (sixth in the Pac-12) and is also attacking at a .276 clip. Sophomore Gabby Simpson ranks second on the team with 3.24 kills per set.

CU has had the flexibility of choosing between a 6-2 and a 5-1 offense this season depending on what is working best. Senior Nicole Edelman and Simpson are directing the Buffs to a .227 hitting percentage. Edelman is averaging 8.80 assists per set (seventh in the Pac-12), while Simpson is handing out 1.84. Edelman is averaging 1.06 kills per set.

Defensively, junior Cierra Simpson has picked up 3.27 digs per set, the 10th best average in the conference. At the net, the Buffs are led by sophomore Anna Pfefferle, who has posted 1.14 blocks per set, while freshman Naghede Abu, is averaging 0.98 blocks per set.

Oregon has a 7-4 overall record and is 1-1 in Pac-12 play. The Ducks defeated Oregon State 3-1 before falling to then-No. 14 Arizona 3-0. This is UO's home opener. The Ducks are 5-2 on the road this season and are 2-2 in neutral site matches. UO is currently ranked 22^nd in the latest AVCA poll.

Offensively, Martenne Bettendorf leads the Ducks and is eighth in the league with 3.55 kills per set. Lindsey Vander Weide is second on the team with 3.13 kills per set. Maggie Scott is averaging 10.74 assists per set, which is second in the league, and is directing the Ducks to a .259 hitting percentage (fifth in the Pac-12). UO is holding its opponents to a .176 attack percentage, due in part to Amanda Benson, whose 4.80 digs per set leads the Pac-12. Kacey Nady is the Ducks leading blocker with 0.98 per set.

The Ducks lead the all-time series 9-2.

OSU enters the weekend with a 2-10 overall record and is also 0-2 to start the conference season. This will be just the third home match of the season for the Beavers. They are 0-1 at home and will host Utah on Friday before CU comes to town on Sunday.

The Beavers are led by Mary-Kate Marshall, who ranks seventh in the league with 3.86 kills per set and is also seventh in the conference with 4.25 points per set. OSU is attacking at a .177 hitting percentage. Setter Dana Backlund is eighth in the conference with 8.69 assists per set. OSU's highest ranking in the league is ninth in blocks with 2.29; Haley Clarke leads the team with 1.12 bps. Darby Reeder is averaging a team best 2.82 digs per set, while Kayla Ellis is recording 2.29 digs per set.

The Buffs lead the series against OSU 4-3.

Season tickets for the Buffs' home matches can still be purchased and start at just $25 for general admission. Reserved seats are $40 for the season. New this year is the Volleyball VIP Package which gives fans a reserved seat, access to VIP parking, pre-match chalk talks with the coaches, special entrance access and admission the volleyball banquet. These are available for $500. Fans interested in the VIP Package, please call 303-492-8130.

Single match tickets are also available. General admission seats are $5 and reserved seats are $8. Kids 12 and under are free.

Fans can also purchase the Women's Sports Pass, which is new this season and supports women's basketball, soccer and volleyball. For just $125, over 50 percent off the single game box office price for those three sports, the Women's Sports Pass allows for seating in general admission areas at each venue for three of the most successful programs at CU. Once you purchase the pass, you will be mailed season tickets for all three sports.