Buffs Rally Falls Short Against No. 12 UCLA

Friday, October 28

Los Angeles, Calif.

7:00 PM

Colorado

12-9, 4-7Pac-12

UCLA

17-4, 8-3Pac-12

Colorado

UCLA

Gabby Simpson

Photo by: Mark Waldron

October 28, 2016 | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Linda Sprouse, Assistant SID

LOS ANGELES— Colorado rallied back from a 0-2 deficit, but fell just short of the comeback against No. 12 UCLA on Friday night as the Bruins (17-4, 8-3 Pac-12) defeated the Buffs (12-9, 4-7 Pac-12) in five sets.

Set scores were 25-16, 25-16, 19-25, 19-25, 15-9.

WHAT HAPPENED: Sophomore Alexa Smith led the Buffs against the Bruins with 18 kills and added 16 digs for her 11th double-double of the season. Junior Stephanie Shadley also had a double-double, her fifth of the season, with 15 kills and a career-high 19 digs. Yet another Buff, junior Gabby Simpson, had double-digit kills with 10 and she too recorded a double-double with 23 assists. It was her 12th double-double of the year.

Defensively the Buffs had a good showing with senior Cierra Simpson picking up 24 digs, her second highest single-match total of the season. At the net, sophomore Naghede Abu put up eight blocks, two solo and six assists, and junior Anna Pfefferle added another five block assists.

SET 1: The first set was tied 6-6 before the Bruins recorded a 4-0 run to go up 10-6, causing CU to take its first timeout of the set. After the break, the two sides exchanged the next four points (12-8) before UCLA put together a 6-0 run to take a 17-8 lead, once again forcing the Buffs to use a timeout. Colorado tried to chip away at the Bruins lead, but the deficit was too large and the Buffs fell 25-16.

SET 2: The Buffs lead the second set 7-6 when UCLA put together a 4-0 run to take a 10-7 lead. The Buffs rallied back with two straight points to get back within a point (10-9). The Bruins had a slight 15-12 advantage at the media timeout, but out of the break, UCLA used a 5-3 run to go up 20-15. After CU called a quick timeout, UCLA closed out the game by taking five of the following six points (25-16).

SET 3: Colorado had a much better third set, coming out stronger than in the first two sets. The Buffs led 12-8 when UCLA called its first timeout. The Bruins took the next two points (12-10), but CU answered with two of its own to regain a four-point advantage (14-10). The Buffs continued to attack and increased their lead to six at 20-14, again forcing UCLA to take a timeout. The Bruins were able to cut CU's lead to four points (22-18), but the Buffs wrapped with the set with a 3-1 run, taking it 25-19.

SET 4: The Buffs took control of the fourth set from the start, going up 10-5 before UCLA spent a timeout. Colorado continue to roll and increased its advantage to eight points at 17-9, once again forcing the Bruins to take a break. UCLA took three of the next four points (18-12), but the Buffs answered with a 3-0 run, bringing their lead to nine points (21-12). CU needed to take a timeout after the Bruins answered with a 3-0 run of their own (21-15). UCLA took the following point, but CU answered with a kill from Shadley (22-16). CU held off the Bruin's surge, winning the set 25-19.

SET 5: CU started the final set with a 3-1 lead, but needed to use a quick timeout after UCLA took a 5-3 advantage. The Bruins never let go of the lead despite a great effort by the Buffs, winning the game 15-9.

TEAM STATISTICS: The Buffs hit .206 with 60 kills and 23 errors on 180 attacks, while UCLA hit .247 with 69 kills and 22 errors on 190 attacks. CU recorded 59 assists to UCLA's 64. The Bruins out-dug the Buffs 90-84 and also had a slight 15.0-13.0 lead in blocks.

NOTEABLE: The Buffs are now 12-9, 4-7 in the Pac-12… CU is 1-6 on the road this season…UCLA is 17-4, 8-3 in the Pac-12…UCLA leads the all-time series against CU 11-3… CU is 4-6 this season against ranked teams…The Buffs are 5-3 in five-set matches this year…The Buffs are 0-4 this season when losing the first two sets...This is the fourth match that Cierra Simpson has picked up 20 or more digs.

NEXT UP: Colorado will travel across town to take on No. 24 Southern California on Saturday at 6 p.m. MT. That match will be streamed online on Pac-12 Plus.

QUOTABLE:
Jesse Mahoney, head coach
"I'm proud of our team for the fight that we showed after being down 0-2, but our slow start killed us. We did battle back, played some great defense in sets three and four, but came up short in the fifth to a very good UCLA team."

"We have another tough match at USC on a short turnaround, so we will refocus and be ready for USC tomorrow."