Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Laguda And Smith Earn CU Athlete Of The Week Honors
September 07, 2017 | Football, General, Volleyball
BOULDER - School is back in session and student athletes at the University of Colorado are back to their winning ways. On the gridiron, senior safety Afolabi Laguda helped a young CU defense hold rival CSU to just three points in Friday's season opening win and junior outside hitter Alexa Smith starred as the Buffs swept this weekend's Omni Invitational volleyball tournament. Laguda and Smith's performances have earned them recognition as CU's athletes of the week during the final week of August (8/28 – 9/3).
Senior captain Afolabi Laguda shined in this year's Rocky Mountain Showdown, as CU topped in-state rival CSU 17-3. Laguda recorded 11 tackles, with seven solo tackles and one for a loss. He also made one of the game's key plays combining with cornerback Trey Udoffia to strip the ball from a CSU receiver, then recovering the fumble in CSU territory with just 5:09 remaining in the game. Friday's game was Laguda's first as a team captain, and the defense responded well to his leadership allowing only three points despite starting eight new players.
Alexa Smith was named the MVP of the Omni Invitational after helping the Buffs to a 3-0 record and a tournament championship. She opened the invitational with a 14-kill performance, hitting .444 on 27 attacks against Wake Forest. In the next match against Rice, she recorded nine kills on 21 errorless attacks. Despite playing in just two matches, she totaled 23 kills to average a team-best 3.83 kills per set. Smith hit an impressive .438 on 48 attacks, all while only committing two errors. She was also vital to CU's success on the defensive end, recording 10 digs, three blocks and an ace, for a total of 25.5 points. CU swept all three matches of the Omni Invitational, improving to 6-0 on the young season and tying the best start in school history.
Also nominated for this week's honors: Ethan Gonzales (Men's cross country) and Brianna Schwartz (Women's cross country)
Junior Ethan Gonzales was the individual winner in the 5k at Friday's Colorado State Invitational. He crossed the finish line in just 14:51 to earn the first individual win of his cross-country career. His performance helped the fifth-ranked Buffaloes to a dominant team win at the event, totaling only 22-points to runner-up Air Force's 66.
On the women's side, sophomore Brianna Schwartz paced the top-ranked CU women at Friday's Colorado State Invitational. She finished in 17:37 to place fourth, besting both of her finishes last cross-country season. Her fourth place finish helped the Buffs' edge CSU 34-35 to place first on the women's side.
Senior captain Afolabi Laguda shined in this year's Rocky Mountain Showdown, as CU topped in-state rival CSU 17-3. Laguda recorded 11 tackles, with seven solo tackles and one for a loss. He also made one of the game's key plays combining with cornerback Trey Udoffia to strip the ball from a CSU receiver, then recovering the fumble in CSU territory with just 5:09 remaining in the game. Friday's game was Laguda's first as a team captain, and the defense responded well to his leadership allowing only three points despite starting eight new players.
Alexa Smith was named the MVP of the Omni Invitational after helping the Buffs to a 3-0 record and a tournament championship. She opened the invitational with a 14-kill performance, hitting .444 on 27 attacks against Wake Forest. In the next match against Rice, she recorded nine kills on 21 errorless attacks. Despite playing in just two matches, she totaled 23 kills to average a team-best 3.83 kills per set. Smith hit an impressive .438 on 48 attacks, all while only committing two errors. She was also vital to CU's success on the defensive end, recording 10 digs, three blocks and an ace, for a total of 25.5 points. CU swept all three matches of the Omni Invitational, improving to 6-0 on the young season and tying the best start in school history.
Also nominated for this week's honors: Ethan Gonzales (Men's cross country) and Brianna Schwartz (Women's cross country)
Junior Ethan Gonzales was the individual winner in the 5k at Friday's Colorado State Invitational. He crossed the finish line in just 14:51 to earn the first individual win of his cross-country career. His performance helped the fifth-ranked Buffaloes to a dominant team win at the event, totaling only 22-points to runner-up Air Force's 66.
On the women's side, sophomore Brianna Schwartz paced the top-ranked CU women at Friday's Colorado State Invitational. She finished in 17:37 to place fourth, besting both of her finishes last cross-country season. Her fourth place finish helped the Buffs' edge CSU 34-35 to place first on the women's side.
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