Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Host Omni Classic This Weekend
August 27, 2015 | Volleyball
BOULDER — The 2015 NCAA Volleyball season officially starts on Friday and the University of Colorado is hosting one of the best opening weekend tournaments in the country with four of the nation's best teams competing August 28-29.
The Buffs, which were picked 24th in the AVCA Division I Preseason Coaches Poll, will host No. 9 Florida State, as well as Oklahoma and San Diego, which are both receiving votes in the AVCA Poll. All four teams were 2014 NCAA Tournament participants.
The action starts at the Coors Events Center on Friday, August 28, at 4 p.m. with the FSU Seminoles facing the OU Sooners. The Buffs will square off against the USD Toreros at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, August 29, will be a busy day with four contests slated. OU and USD will meet at 9:30 a.m. FSU will face CU at 12 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Pac-12 Network. The afternoon session begins at 5:30 p.m. between FSU and USD. The Buffs will face former Big Eight/12 opponent Oklahoma in the night cap at 7:30 p.m.
Live stats for all matches can be found at CUBuffs.com, and the two CU matches against USD and OU will be streamed online for free.
CU returns six of its seven starters from the 2014 team that finished 20-14 overall and tied for fourth in the Pac-12 Conference with an 11-9 mark. Colorado also advanced to the second round of the 2014 NCAA Tournament for the second straight year. The Buffs have been picked to finish sixth in the Pac-12 this year by the league coaches.
Senior Alexis Austin was named to the Preseason All-Pac-12 team and had been a starter all three years for the Buffs. She averaged 3.19 kills per set for the Buffs in 2014. The other returning starters include: senior Nicole Edelman (S), another three year starter, juniors Katelyn Cuff (MB) and Cierra Simpson (L) and sophomores Anna Pfefferle (MB) and Gabby Simpson (S/H).
USD finished the 2014 season with a 19-12 record and tied for third in the West Coast Conference with a 12-6 mark. The Toreros return three starters and eight letterwinners from the squad that advanced to the first round of the NCAA Tournament and have been picked to finish third in the league this year. Canace Finley is the top returner for USD as she averaged 2.60 kills per set. This is the fourth meeting between CU and USD with the Buffs owning a 2-1 advantage.
The Seminoles went to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2014 and return four starters and 12 letterwinners from that squad. FSU accumulated a 30-3 overall mark and finished second in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 16-2 record. FSU has been picked to finish second in the ACC this season. Nicole Walch recorded 3.99 kills per set for FSU in 2014 and returns in 2015. This is the second time CU and FSU will meet; CU won the first and only contest in 1990 (in Boulder).
OU returns to the CEC for the first time since 2010 this weekend. The Sooners finished 2014 with a 20-11 record after advancing to the NCAA First Round. OU also placed fourth in the Big 12 with a 10-6 mark. The Sooners welcome back all six of their starters, as well as their libero, and were picked to finish third in the conference. Keirra Hoist led the Sooners in 2014 with 3.75 kills per set. The Buffs lead the all-time series against OU at 35-19.
Season tickets start at just $25 for general admission and are on sale now online or by calling 303-49-BUFFS. Reserved seats are $40 for the season and floor seats are available for $50. New this year is the Volleyball VIP Package which gives fans a floor 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 floor seats or the VIP Package, please call 303-492-8130.
Single match tickets are also available. General admission seats are $5, reserved seats are $8 and floor seats can be purchased for $10. Kids 12 and under are free. During the non-conference portion of the schedule, fans can receive a free bag of popcorn at each contest.
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.
