Colorado University Athletics
Friday, October 14
Pullman, Wash.
8:00 PM
Colorado
at
Washington State
Photo by: Mark Waldron
Buffs Continue Road Stand Against Washington State and Washington
October 12, 2016 | Volleyball
BOULDER — The Colorado volleyball team will continue its four-match road trip this weekend against a pair of ranked opponents. The Buffs will face No. 13 Washington State on Friday, Oct. 14, at 8 p.m., while its match against No. 7 Washington will be at 4 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 16. Both matches will be streamed live on the Pac-12 Digital platform.
ABOUT THE BUFFS: The Buffs have recorded a 10-6 overall record this season. They are also 2-4 in the Pac-12, which is ninth in the league standings after three weekends of play. CU ranks 19th in blocks per set nationally (2.80), which is also fourth in the Pac-12.
Individually, the Buffs are led by Alexa Smith, who is averaging 3.23 kills per set and 0.27 service aces per set, which is sixth in the conference. At the net, the Buffs have two players posting over 1.00 blocks per set. Sophomore Naghede Abu is averaging the 20th best total in the country, sixth in the Pac-12, at 1.42 blocks per set, while junior Anna Pfefferle is posting 1.00 blocks per set.
Junior Gabby Simpson and senior Kiara McKibben have been running a very successful 6-2 offense, as seen in CU's hitting efficiency (.252, sixth in the Pac-12). Simpson is averaging 5.67 assists per set, but also adds 2.46 kills per set, the second best total on the team, as well. McKibben is recording 6.17 assists per set, the ninth best mark in the Pac-12. Senior Cierra Simpson leads the Buffs with 3.57 digs per set.
ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE: Washington State, the 13th-ranked team in the latest AVCA Poll, currently sits on top of the Pac-12 standings with a 5-1 record. Overall, the Cougars have recorded a 15-3 mark. As a team, WSU ranks second in the nation and the Pac-12 with 3.33 blocks per set. The Cougars have held their opponents to a .139 hitting efficiency, which leads the league and ranks sixth in the NCAA.
Kyra Holt is the team's leading offensive weapon, averaging 3.72 kills per set, which is ninth in the Pac-12. WSU is hitting .249 this season under the direction of Haley MacDonald (5.54 assists per set) and Nicole Rigoni (5.09 assists per set). Alexis Dirige is seventh in the Pac-12 with 4.02 digs per set. A pair of Cougars are posting over 1.50 blocks per set. Taylor Mims is second in the conference, 11th in the NCAA, with 1.54 blocks per set, while Claire Martin is recording the fourth best mark in the league (15th in the NCAA) at 1.50 blocks per set.
The Buffs own an 8-2 lead in the all-time series against the Cougars, which includes the last five meetings. The last time WSU defeated CU was on Oct. 31, 2012 in Pullman, Wash. Set scores were 21-25, 9-25, 19-25.
ABOUT WASHINGTON: The No. 7 ranked Huskies are 14-2 overall this season, 4-2 in the Pac-12. They lead the Pac-12 with 1.54 aces per set and are third in the league, 16th in the NCAA, with 2.85 blocks per set. UW also ranks second in the conference in kills (14.42), which is ninth in the NCAA.
A pair of UW hitters are recording over 3.00 kills per set this season. Courtney Schwan is averaging 3.78 kills per set, while Crissy Jones is tallying 3.34 kills per set. Jones leads the Pac-12 with 0.42 aces per set and is sixth in the league in points per set (4.26). Defensively UW has a pair recording over 3.00 digs per set: Shayne McPherson (3.69) and Tia Scambray (3.22). At the net, Kara Bajema is posting 1.43 blocks per set, which is fifth in the conference and 19th in the NCAA, and Avie Niece also ranks high with 1.24 blocks per set (seventh in the Pac-12, 53rd in the NCAA).
Washington holds a 9-3 lead in the all-time series against CU. The Buffs have never won at Seattle; all three of their victories have come in Boulder.
ABOUT THE BUFFS: The Buffs have recorded a 10-6 overall record this season. They are also 2-4 in the Pac-12, which is ninth in the league standings after three weekends of play. CU ranks 19th in blocks per set nationally (2.80), which is also fourth in the Pac-12.
Individually, the Buffs are led by Alexa Smith, who is averaging 3.23 kills per set and 0.27 service aces per set, which is sixth in the conference. At the net, the Buffs have two players posting over 1.00 blocks per set. Sophomore Naghede Abu is averaging the 20th best total in the country, sixth in the Pac-12, at 1.42 blocks per set, while junior Anna Pfefferle is posting 1.00 blocks per set.
Junior Gabby Simpson and senior Kiara McKibben have been running a very successful 6-2 offense, as seen in CU's hitting efficiency (.252, sixth in the Pac-12). Simpson is averaging 5.67 assists per set, but also adds 2.46 kills per set, the second best total on the team, as well. McKibben is recording 6.17 assists per set, the ninth best mark in the Pac-12. Senior Cierra Simpson leads the Buffs with 3.57 digs per set.
ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE: Washington State, the 13th-ranked team in the latest AVCA Poll, currently sits on top of the Pac-12 standings with a 5-1 record. Overall, the Cougars have recorded a 15-3 mark. As a team, WSU ranks second in the nation and the Pac-12 with 3.33 blocks per set. The Cougars have held their opponents to a .139 hitting efficiency, which leads the league and ranks sixth in the NCAA.
Kyra Holt is the team's leading offensive weapon, averaging 3.72 kills per set, which is ninth in the Pac-12. WSU is hitting .249 this season under the direction of Haley MacDonald (5.54 assists per set) and Nicole Rigoni (5.09 assists per set). Alexis Dirige is seventh in the Pac-12 with 4.02 digs per set. A pair of Cougars are posting over 1.50 blocks per set. Taylor Mims is second in the conference, 11th in the NCAA, with 1.54 blocks per set, while Claire Martin is recording the fourth best mark in the league (15th in the NCAA) at 1.50 blocks per set.
The Buffs own an 8-2 lead in the all-time series against the Cougars, which includes the last five meetings. The last time WSU defeated CU was on Oct. 31, 2012 in Pullman, Wash. Set scores were 21-25, 9-25, 19-25.
ABOUT WASHINGTON: The No. 7 ranked Huskies are 14-2 overall this season, 4-2 in the Pac-12. They lead the Pac-12 with 1.54 aces per set and are third in the league, 16th in the NCAA, with 2.85 blocks per set. UW also ranks second in the conference in kills (14.42), which is ninth in the NCAA.
A pair of UW hitters are recording over 3.00 kills per set this season. Courtney Schwan is averaging 3.78 kills per set, while Crissy Jones is tallying 3.34 kills per set. Jones leads the Pac-12 with 0.42 aces per set and is sixth in the league in points per set (4.26). Defensively UW has a pair recording over 3.00 digs per set: Shayne McPherson (3.69) and Tia Scambray (3.22). At the net, Kara Bajema is posting 1.43 blocks per set, which is fifth in the conference and 19th in the NCAA, and Avie Niece also ranks high with 1.24 blocks per set (seventh in the Pac-12, 53rd in the NCAA).
Washington holds a 9-3 lead in the all-time series against CU. The Buffs have never won at Seattle; all three of their victories have come in Boulder.
Players Mentioned
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