Colorado University Athletics
Anna Pfefferle goes for a kill against Arizona State
Photo by: Mark Waldron
Mahoney, Buffs Excited To Continue NCAA Season
December 08, 2017 | Volleyball
LEXINGTON, Ky. - When the Buffs take the court Friday afternoon, it will be the first time in 20 years Colorado has played in the Sweet 16.
"We're certainly very excited to be here," head coach Jesse Mahoney said during the Lexington Regional press conference on Thursday. "We had a great second half of our season and an exciting first week of the NCAAs and very spirited practices the last couple of weeks. I feel like we're playing very good volleyball and looking forward to playing a very good Nebraska team tomorrow."
Given the fact CU missed the tournament last season, finishing just under .500 with a 14-16 record, it could take some by surprise, but not this team, which has recorded many upsets this season. In fact, CU recorded six wins over ranked teams, tying the school record for the most ranked wins in a single season.
"Every weekend, whether you are playing Stanford or someone in the bottom half of the Pac 12, it's a challenge, and I think that certainly can be a grind," Mahoney said. "But if we look at it the right way, which I think this group did, they used it as a challenge for themselves to continue to get better and we were definitely a different team in the second half coming down the stretch of the Pac 12 then we were in the first."
The Buffs advanced to the Sweet 16 after an outstanding performance last weekend in Waco, Texas, in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Buffs swept James Madison in the first round before dealing No. 18 Baylor a 3-0 loss in the second round.
"Obviously both of those teams were really high-level teams," junior outside hitter Alexa Smith said. "I think we're playing some of our best volleyball at this point of the season and that's what you want to be doing. You can tell that we've gotten better each weekend throughout the season. We want to be as hot as you can be at this time of the year."
To say Colorado has been have a great season is an understatement. The Buffs have recorded 24 wins this season, the third most in a single season in the 32-years of the program. CU also finished 12-8 in the Pac-12, which is the best record since joining the league. After missing the tournament the last two seasons, the Buffs are making a statement to show the nation they belong.
"It's been really special for us," senior middle blocker Anna Pfefferle said. "We've had a great season and like Jesse (Mahoney) said, I think especially the second half of Pac-12 play - certainly last weekend - I think we've been playing some of our best volleyball that we have been all season and I think just from our preseason we've really had it in the back of our mind to make it back to the NCAA Tournament.
"It's been tough not going to postseason play the past few years. I think this has been a really great way to keep playing and everyone is really excited about it. We 're definitely excited to play here this weekend and hopefully continue our season for some more games."
Friday's match brings a familiar, yet not so familiar foe in fifth-ranked Nebraska. The Buffs and Huskers used to play each other at least twice a year while both were members of the Big Eight and Big 12 Conferences, but have not seen each other since 2010 when CU left for the Pac-12 and NU left for the Big Ten.
"There's not a player on our roster who was on the team when we were still in the Big 12," Mahoney said. "But, it's still not okay to wear red around campus or anything like that. We talked a little bit this week about the history of the rivalry in general and the volleyball rivalry. I was a student at the University of Colorado in the '90s so I'm aware what the match-up means."
No matter the outcome on Friday, this has truly been a season to remember, especially for Pfefferle.
"I don't know if I necessarily had a Sweet 16 in mind, but obviously this is a point in the season where everyone wants to get to," she said. "This is a super special team. It's just an honor to be part of this and we are excited to continue playing."
"We're certainly very excited to be here," head coach Jesse Mahoney said during the Lexington Regional press conference on Thursday. "We had a great second half of our season and an exciting first week of the NCAAs and very spirited practices the last couple of weeks. I feel like we're playing very good volleyball and looking forward to playing a very good Nebraska team tomorrow."
Given the fact CU missed the tournament last season, finishing just under .500 with a 14-16 record, it could take some by surprise, but not this team, which has recorded many upsets this season. In fact, CU recorded six wins over ranked teams, tying the school record for the most ranked wins in a single season.
"Every weekend, whether you are playing Stanford or someone in the bottom half of the Pac 12, it's a challenge, and I think that certainly can be a grind," Mahoney said. "But if we look at it the right way, which I think this group did, they used it as a challenge for themselves to continue to get better and we were definitely a different team in the second half coming down the stretch of the Pac 12 then we were in the first."
The Buffs advanced to the Sweet 16 after an outstanding performance last weekend in Waco, Texas, in the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament. The Buffs swept James Madison in the first round before dealing No. 18 Baylor a 3-0 loss in the second round.
"Obviously both of those teams were really high-level teams," junior outside hitter Alexa Smith said. "I think we're playing some of our best volleyball at this point of the season and that's what you want to be doing. You can tell that we've gotten better each weekend throughout the season. We want to be as hot as you can be at this time of the year."
To say Colorado has been have a great season is an understatement. The Buffs have recorded 24 wins this season, the third most in a single season in the 32-years of the program. CU also finished 12-8 in the Pac-12, which is the best record since joining the league. After missing the tournament the last two seasons, the Buffs are making a statement to show the nation they belong.
"It's been really special for us," senior middle blocker Anna Pfefferle said. "We've had a great season and like Jesse (Mahoney) said, I think especially the second half of Pac-12 play - certainly last weekend - I think we've been playing some of our best volleyball that we have been all season and I think just from our preseason we've really had it in the back of our mind to make it back to the NCAA Tournament.
"It's been tough not going to postseason play the past few years. I think this has been a really great way to keep playing and everyone is really excited about it. We 're definitely excited to play here this weekend and hopefully continue our season for some more games."
Friday's match brings a familiar, yet not so familiar foe in fifth-ranked Nebraska. The Buffs and Huskers used to play each other at least twice a year while both were members of the Big Eight and Big 12 Conferences, but have not seen each other since 2010 when CU left for the Pac-12 and NU left for the Big Ten.
"There's not a player on our roster who was on the team when we were still in the Big 12," Mahoney said. "But, it's still not okay to wear red around campus or anything like that. We talked a little bit this week about the history of the rivalry in general and the volleyball rivalry. I was a student at the University of Colorado in the '90s so I'm aware what the match-up means."
No matter the outcome on Friday, this has truly been a season to remember, especially for Pfefferle.
"I don't know if I necessarily had a Sweet 16 in mind, but obviously this is a point in the season where everyone wants to get to," she said. "This is a super special team. It's just an honor to be part of this and we are excited to continue playing."
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