Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Face Top-Ranked Penn State & No. 6 Illinois
September 03, 2015 | Volleyball
BOULDER — The University of Colorado volleyball team will be facing one of its toughest tests of the season this weekend, September 4-5, at the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge in University Park, Pa. The Buffs will take on top-ranked Penn State and No. 6 Illinois.
CU's first match will be against two-time defending NCAA Champion PSU on Friday at 5:30 p.m. MT. The Buffs, who are ranked 21st in this week's AVCA poll, will square off against IU on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. MT.
Live stats for both matches will be available at GoPSUSports.com. CU's match against the Nittany Lions will be streamed live for a fee on the BTN Plus platform (http://www.btn2go.com/game/colorado-at-penn-st-on-09042015), while the contest against the Illini will be broadcast on Big Ten Network. Fate Brewing Company (1600 38th Street) in Boulder will host a watch party for Saturday's match.
The Buffs are 2-1 after the Omni Classic. CU fell to San Diego on Friday night, 3-1, but rebounded strong on Saturday with wins against then-No. 9 Florida State (3-2) and Oklahoma (3-2).
Senior Alexis Austin led all four teams with 60 kills to earn a spot on the Omni Classic All-Tournament team. She averaged 4.29 kills per set and hit .254 while adding 1.21 digs and 0.50 blocks per set. Austin currently ranks fifth in the Pac-12 in kills.
Also earning all-tournament honors was senior Nicole Edelman. She, along with sophomore Gabby Simpson, directed the Buffs to a .240 hitting percentage. Edelman averaged 5.93 assists per set, as well as 1.64 kills, 1.29 digs and 0.43 blocks per set. Simpson handed out 4.43 assists per set, and added 2.00 kills, 1.43 digs and 0.71 blocks per set.
Defensively, junior Cierra Simpson picked up 3.29 digs per set, which ranks 10th in the Pac-12. She recorded 23 digs in the five-set win over Oklahoma.
CU's freshmen had a great first weekend. Naghede Abu is the top blocker on the team with 0.92 blocks per set, while Aidan Lea hit .462 (12 kills, 0 errors, 26 attacks) in three matches. Lea stepped up after replacing Joslyn Hayes who left CU's match against FSU due to injury. She did not play the rest of the tournament.
PSU is 3-0 after sweeping Buffalo, Stony Brook and Villanova to win the Penn State Classic. PSU had a very balanced attack with four players averaging over 2.00 kills per set in Megan Courtney (3.89), Aiyana Whitney (3.44), Ali Frantti (2.44) and Haleigh Washington (2.22). Bryanna Weiskircher averaged 9.44 assists per set while directing PSU to a .325 team hitting efficiency. The defense is also evenly spread out with three players averaging over 2.00 digs per set (Courtney, 2.89; Keeton Holcomb, 2.88; Frantti, 2.33). Heidi Thelen has posted 2.11 blocks per set and three others are averaging over 1.00.
The Illini are 3-0 to start the season, defeating Louisville, Miami (Ohio) and Creighton at the Illinois Classic. Michelle Strizak recorded 4.71 kills per set to lead UI, while Jocelynn Birks added 4.11 kills per set. Jordyn Poulter handed out 11.44 assists per set and directed UI to a .289 hitting percentage. Defensively, Brandi Donnelly picked up 5.44 digs in nine sets (49 total). Katie Stadick and Ali Bastianelli each posted 1.22 blocks per set last weekend.
Season tickets can still be purchased for 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. 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.
