Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
8-6, 0-2Pac-12
Washington
12-0, 2-0Pac-12
Buffs Fall To No. 6 Washington
September 27, 2015 | Volleyball
SEATTLE— Alexis Austin and Gabby Simpson combined for 27 kills as the University of Colorado volleyball team fell to No. 6 Washington, 3-0, on Sunday night.
Austin led both teams with 14 kills, while Simpson was second with 13 kills in the match.
The Buffs (8-6, 0-2 Pac-12) put up a valent effort in the loss with set scores of 25-20, 25-17 and 25-22.
The stats were very close. UW had 42 kills, 14 errors and 100 attacks to hit .280, while CU recorded 40 kills, 18 errors and 99 attacks to hit .222. UW picked up 33 digs to CU's 32 and had the advantage at the net, posting 8.0 blocks to CU's 3.0.
The biggest difference in the match was at the service line. The Buffs recorded eight errors to UW's two and the Huskies had six aces to CU's three. UW is now 12-0 on the year (2-0 Pac-12).
Anna Pfefferle hit a match-best .636 with seven kills on 11 errorless attacks. Austin was next on the team with a .370 percentage (four errors on 27 attacks). Nicole Edelman handed out 31 assists and also led the Buffs with seven digs. Abbie D'Agosta and Austin each had six digs and Gabby Simpson and Cierra Simpson each collected five in the effort. Austin and Naghde Abu led CU with two blocks each.
The Buffs jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first set when the Huskies took their first timeout of the match. UW rallied back to even the score at 6-6 out of the break. The two sides exchanged points for the next four points before UW put two straight points together to take a 9-8 lead in the set. The Huskies pulled ahead 13-10 and this time the Buffs took a timeout. UW kept attacking out of the break and added to its lead (17-12). CU kept fighting, but was unable to close the gap, losing 25-20.
The second set also started off close before UW took a three-point advantage at 13-10. The Buffs called a timeout a short time later at 15-12 and again at 22-16. UW had set point at 24-16, but a kill from Austin gave CU a point. The Buffs weren't able to keep the set going though, falling 25-17 on the next point, a UW kill.
CU had a 5-3 lead in the third set before the Huskies came back to even the frame two points later. UW took the next three straight (8-5), to force the Buffs to call a timeout. CU was able to stay close to UW, cutting the lead to one at 17-16. The Huskies responded with two points (19-16), at which point the Buffs took another timeout.
Pfefferle hammered a kill out of the break (19-17), but UW answered with a kill of its own. CU got the serve back after a service error and then a kill from Austin brought the Buffs within one again (20-19). The two sides traded points (21-20), but UW was able to pull ahead 23-20 a short time later. CU answered with a kill from Gabby Simpson and a UW attack error (23-22), but unfortunately it wasn't enough as the Huskies finished the set 25-22.
The Buffs continue a four-match road swing next weekend in Oregon. They will take on the Oregon Ducks on Friday, Oct. 2, in Eugene at 9 p.m. MT and on Sunday, Oct. 4, Oregon State will host the Buffs in Corvallis for a match at 12 p.m. MT. Both contests will be televised on Pac-12 Network.
