Buffs Snaps Losing Streak With Sweep of California

Sunday, November 6

Boulder, Colo.

12:00 PM

Colorado

13-11, 5-9

California

9-15, 3-11

California

Colorado

Joslyn Hayes and Anna Pfefferle post a block against Cal.

November 06, 2016 | Volleyball

Box Score

By: Alejandra Zepeda, Student Assistant SID

BOULDER—Colorado got back to its winning ways on Sunday with a sweep of the California Bears at Coors Event Center. The Buffs recorded scores of 25-15, 25-19, 25-19 to snap their four-match losing streak.

The Buffs improved to 13-11 overall and are now 5-9 in Pac-12 play, while Cal is 9-15 overall, 3-11 in the Pac-12.

WHAT HAPPENED: Sophomore Alexa Smith led the team with 12 kills and added five digs, while junior Stephanie Shadley recorded her sixth double-double this season with 10 kills and 11 digs. Senior Cierra Simpson recorded a match-high 15 digs while sophomore Naghede Abu put up five block assists to lead the match.

SET 1: The Buffs and Bears were tied at 5-5 early in the set. From there, Colorado jumped to a 10-5 lead by way of a 5-0 run, forcing Cal into its first timeout. Coming out of the break, Cal scored a point, but CU quickly responded by putting together another 5-0 run, widening its lead to 15-6. The Bears had no response to CU and the Buffs rolled to a 25-15 victory in the first set.

SET 2: Colorado carried on where it left off in the first set. The Buffs led Cal 10-3 before the Bears put together a 5-2 run to cut the lead to 12-8. CU, not wanting to lose control of the set, recorded a 6-1 run to move ahead 18-9. After a Cal timeout, the Bears went on a 6-2 run, cutting the Buffs lead to 20-15. After a CU timeout, the Buffs went on to take the set 25-19.

SET 3: CU showed no signs of slowing down as the Buffs quickly recorded a 4-0 lead before Cal recorded a point of its own. Colorado looked like it had all match, leading 12-6 midway through the third set. The Bears attempted to cut the Buffs lead but Colorado quickly stopped Cal in its tracks, jumping to another wide lead at 20-14. The Buffs then cruised to a comfortable 25-19 win to finish the sweep.

TEAM STATISTICS: The Buffs hit .314 with 47 kills and 10 errors on 119 attacks, while California hit .157 with 40 kills and 20 errors on 121 attacks. CU recorded 43 assists to the Bears' 40. Cal out-dug with 53 to CU's 50. Colorado had 6.0 blocks while California had 3.0.

NOTEABLE: CU leads the all-time series 7-6…The win snapped a four-match losing streak for CU, its' longest losing streak this season…It is also the first three-set Pac-12 win for the Buffs this season…CU is 5-3 in three-set matches this season.

NEXT UP: Colorado will be traveling to Oregon for a pair of matches. On Thursday, November 10, Oregon will be hosting Colorado at 8 p.m. Then on Saturday, November 12, the Buffs will be back in action at Oregon State, also at 8 p.m.

QUOTABLE:
Jesse Mahoney, head coach
ON TODAY'S WIN
"I think we need wins. It doesn't matter who we're playing, we've got a couple that are must wins for us and this is one of them…I thought that from start to finish, we were focused and on point. Offensively especially there was low error. We stuck to the defensive game plan and we put ourselves in a position to be successful. It was fun to watch."

ON THE REST OF THE SEASON
"I think we've been on the wrong side of a couple results that we feel like feel like we played really well. We just have to get on the right side of those down the stretch. If you look at the Pac-12 this season, there's no one that's invincible at all. We can play at anybody's level and we've shown that throughout the season. We just need to focus in, get some wins on the road and defend our home court. It's out there for us. They're all opportunities and we need to go take them."

Gabby Simpson, setter/hitter

ON SWEEPING PAC 12 OPPONENT
"I know that my body loves it. Five sets are very rough but I am glad that we could get this done in three."

ON WHAT WENT RIGHT
"We came into the third set with a first game mentality because we do have those lulls. We decided this game that wasn't going to happen."

ON GREAT PERFOMRANCE THROUGHOUT GAME
"I think we are tired of losing honestly, so we came out today really wanting to win this match and I think that it showed."

ON IMPORTANCE OF NEXT SIX GAMES
"We have had a bunch of talks and now it is just a matter of us doing it because we know we are capable of doing it. So all of us just have to be on the same page and have the same mentality. Like I have said multiple times we can do it."

Stephanie Shadley, outside hitter

ON SWEEPING PAC 12 OPPONENT
"We always say "Let's win in three" and we actually did today."

ON GREAT PERFORMANCE THROUGHOUT GAME
"I agree with Gabby, we came out with a fire and we were just over losing."

ON IMPORTANCE OF NEXT SIX GAMES
"There has been a lot of talking that has been going on and I think that today we actually did what we needed to do. Like Gabby said, we just have to remember how it felt today and the energy and what we need to take into the next game."