
Alexa Smith tied a career-high with 25 kills against Arizona
Photo by: Mark Waldron
Buffs Complete Weekend Sweep With 3-2 Victory At Arizona
October 15, 2017 | Volleyball
TUCSON, Ariz. — Colorado finished a weekend sweep on Sunday with a thrilling 3-2 win at the University of Arizona. Set scores were 28-30, 25-21, 25-14, 23-25, 15-10. The Buffs also defeated Arizona State on Friday (3-0).
The Buffs improved to .500 in Pac-12 play with the win (4-4) and are now 14-5 on the season. The Wildcats fell below .500 overall (8-9) and are now 2-6 in league play.
WHAT HAPPENED: Colorado's outsides were on fire as both Frankie Shebby and Alexa Smith hammered 25 kills. The 25 kills were a career-best for Shebby and tied Smith's career-best, which she has done two other times this season. The duo also hit well. Shebby recorded a .357 percentage with five errors on 56 attacks, while Smith hit .339 with four errors on 62 swings.
Both also picked up double-doubles as they played well on defense. Smith led the match with 18 digs, while Shebby added a career-high 15 digs. Shebby also posted three blocks in the effort, while Smith had one.
Naghede Abu recorded 10 kills in the effort and tied a team-best three blocks. Both Anna Pfefferle and Joslyn Hayes each recorded five kills. Pfefferle had a team high hitting percentage at .700 with no errors on seven attacks.
The Buffs hit quite well in the contest at .299, their highest in Pac-12 play this season, thanks in part to Brynna DeLuzio's career-high 57-assist performance. She also added 12 digs and a pair of blocks.
Elizabeth Shelton led UA with 16 kills and Kendra Dahlke tallied 14 kills. Makenna Martin led the match with 21 digs.
SET 1: Colorado recorded a 14-11 start to the set before Arizona needed to take a timeout. Out of the break, the Wildcats used a 5-2 run to even the set, causing the Buffs to use a timeout of their own. UA took the next two points, but a short time later, the frame was tied again, this time at 19-19. The Buffs were able to regain a 22-21 lead, but two points later, the Wildcats led 23-22, which made CU take its final timeout. UA served up an ace on the following point (24-22), reaching set point, but the Buffs fought off the next two points with kills from Smith and Abu to tie it back up. After an Arizona timeout, the Buffs would have two set-point opportunities before the Wildcats came back to finish the game 28-26.
SET 2: Arizona was able to take 10-7 lead in the set, but the Buffs responded with a 6-2 run, which put them up 13-12. The Wildcats responded by retaking the lead, going up 18-15. At that point, CU was able to put together a 5-0 run for a two-point lead (20-18), forcing the Wildcats to spend a timeout. UA took the next three points, and this time, it was CU that needed a timeout to regroup. The break worked as the Buffs closed the game out with a pair of kills from Shebby and an ace from libero Gabby Carta-Samuels (25-21).
SET 3: The Wildcats used an early timeout after the Buffs started the game 7-4. CU increased its lead to eight out of the break with a 6-1 run (13-5). Colorado did not let up and increased its advantage to 12-points at 21-9. The Buffs would eventually take the set, 25-14.
SET 4: UA took the lead from the start of the set, going up 4-1 before the Buffs evened the score at 6-6. The Wildcats kept the pressure on CU and would eventually have an 18-15 lead before CU would use a timeout. The Buffs used a 3-1 run to cut UA's advantage to one (19-18), causing the Wildcats to take a timeout. UA was able to go back up by three shortly after (23-20), which gave CU no choice by to take a timeout. The Wildcats took the next point, but the Buffs were able to fight off the first two set points before UA needed to talk things over (24-22). The Buffs posted a block out of the timeout, but UA finished the set on the following point (25-23).
SET 5: The Buffs started the final game with four straight points before the Wildcats got on the board. CU had a slight 8-6 edge at the side-change and recorded the next point off a UA attack error (9-6), which made UA take a timeout. The Buffs were able to increase their lead to four at 11-7, causing the Wildcats to use their final break of the match. CU held its composure and was able to finish the final set 15-10.
NOTES: For the first time this season, the Buffs had two player record 20 or more kills in a single match. This was the fifth time this season Alexa Smith has recorded 20 or more kills, while it is the first for Frankie Shebby…Brynna DeLuzio has handed out 50 or more assists in seven contests this campaign… The Buffs are 8-4 in matches away from Boulder and are 4-1 in five-set contests this season…CU now leads the all-time series vs. Arizona 7-6…The Buffs also improved to 3-4 in Tucson, Ariz.
TEAM STATISTICS: Colorado hit .299 with 72 kills and 20 errors on 174 attacks and held Arizona to a .225 hitting efficiency with 65 kills and 25 errors on 178 swings. Both teams served up six aces, but UA had nine service errors to CU's six. The Buffs had the edge in digs (77-69) and blocks (8.5-5.0).
NEXT UP: The Buffs return home to Boulder next weekend. They will host Southern California on Oct. 20 and UCLA on Oct. 21 at Coors Events Center.
QUOTES:
Head coach Jesse Mahoney
"Every team in this league is a challenge, so getting a road sweep on the weekend is a big deal. Lex and Frankie carried the load for us in a big way and we played very clean volleyball in the fifth set. We are looking forward to playing in Coors next weekend."
The Buffs improved to .500 in Pac-12 play with the win (4-4) and are now 14-5 on the season. The Wildcats fell below .500 overall (8-9) and are now 2-6 in league play.
WHAT HAPPENED: Colorado's outsides were on fire as both Frankie Shebby and Alexa Smith hammered 25 kills. The 25 kills were a career-best for Shebby and tied Smith's career-best, which she has done two other times this season. The duo also hit well. Shebby recorded a .357 percentage with five errors on 56 attacks, while Smith hit .339 with four errors on 62 swings.
Both also picked up double-doubles as they played well on defense. Smith led the match with 18 digs, while Shebby added a career-high 15 digs. Shebby also posted three blocks in the effort, while Smith had one.
Naghede Abu recorded 10 kills in the effort and tied a team-best three blocks. Both Anna Pfefferle and Joslyn Hayes each recorded five kills. Pfefferle had a team high hitting percentage at .700 with no errors on seven attacks.
The Buffs hit quite well in the contest at .299, their highest in Pac-12 play this season, thanks in part to Brynna DeLuzio's career-high 57-assist performance. She also added 12 digs and a pair of blocks.
Elizabeth Shelton led UA with 16 kills and Kendra Dahlke tallied 14 kills. Makenna Martin led the match with 21 digs.
SET 1: Colorado recorded a 14-11 start to the set before Arizona needed to take a timeout. Out of the break, the Wildcats used a 5-2 run to even the set, causing the Buffs to use a timeout of their own. UA took the next two points, but a short time later, the frame was tied again, this time at 19-19. The Buffs were able to regain a 22-21 lead, but two points later, the Wildcats led 23-22, which made CU take its final timeout. UA served up an ace on the following point (24-22), reaching set point, but the Buffs fought off the next two points with kills from Smith and Abu to tie it back up. After an Arizona timeout, the Buffs would have two set-point opportunities before the Wildcats came back to finish the game 28-26.
SET 2: Arizona was able to take 10-7 lead in the set, but the Buffs responded with a 6-2 run, which put them up 13-12. The Wildcats responded by retaking the lead, going up 18-15. At that point, CU was able to put together a 5-0 run for a two-point lead (20-18), forcing the Wildcats to spend a timeout. UA took the next three points, and this time, it was CU that needed a timeout to regroup. The break worked as the Buffs closed the game out with a pair of kills from Shebby and an ace from libero Gabby Carta-Samuels (25-21).
SET 3: The Wildcats used an early timeout after the Buffs started the game 7-4. CU increased its lead to eight out of the break with a 6-1 run (13-5). Colorado did not let up and increased its advantage to 12-points at 21-9. The Buffs would eventually take the set, 25-14.
SET 4: UA took the lead from the start of the set, going up 4-1 before the Buffs evened the score at 6-6. The Wildcats kept the pressure on CU and would eventually have an 18-15 lead before CU would use a timeout. The Buffs used a 3-1 run to cut UA's advantage to one (19-18), causing the Wildcats to take a timeout. UA was able to go back up by three shortly after (23-20), which gave CU no choice by to take a timeout. The Wildcats took the next point, but the Buffs were able to fight off the first two set points before UA needed to talk things over (24-22). The Buffs posted a block out of the timeout, but UA finished the set on the following point (25-23).
SET 5: The Buffs started the final game with four straight points before the Wildcats got on the board. CU had a slight 8-6 edge at the side-change and recorded the next point off a UA attack error (9-6), which made UA take a timeout. The Buffs were able to increase their lead to four at 11-7, causing the Wildcats to use their final break of the match. CU held its composure and was able to finish the final set 15-10.
NOTES: For the first time this season, the Buffs had two player record 20 or more kills in a single match. This was the fifth time this season Alexa Smith has recorded 20 or more kills, while it is the first for Frankie Shebby…Brynna DeLuzio has handed out 50 or more assists in seven contests this campaign… The Buffs are 8-4 in matches away from Boulder and are 4-1 in five-set contests this season…CU now leads the all-time series vs. Arizona 7-6…The Buffs also improved to 3-4 in Tucson, Ariz.
TEAM STATISTICS: Colorado hit .299 with 72 kills and 20 errors on 174 attacks and held Arizona to a .225 hitting efficiency with 65 kills and 25 errors on 178 swings. Both teams served up six aces, but UA had nine service errors to CU's six. The Buffs had the edge in digs (77-69) and blocks (8.5-5.0).
NEXT UP: The Buffs return home to Boulder next weekend. They will host Southern California on Oct. 20 and UCLA on Oct. 21 at Coors Events Center.
QUOTES:
Head coach Jesse Mahoney
"Every team in this league is a challenge, so getting a road sweep on the weekend is a big deal. Lex and Frankie carried the load for us in a big way and we played very clean volleyball in the fifth set. We are looking forward to playing in Coors next weekend."
Team Stats
COLO
ARIZ
Kills
72
65
Errors
20
25
Attempts
174
178
Hitting %
.299
.225
Points
86.5
76.0
Assists
65
61
Aces
6
6
Blocks
8.5
5.0
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Volleyball: Splitsies! | This Week in Colorado Volleyball - Oct. 21, 2025
Tuesday, October 21
Volleyball: No. 24 Colorado vs. West Virginia Highlights - October 18, 2025
Saturday, October 18
Volleyball: Colorado vs. Utah Highlights - October 15, 2025
Thursday, October 16
Volleyball: Home Again, Home Again | This Week in Colorado Volleyball - Oct. 14, 2025
Wednesday, October 15