Colorado University Athletics
Friday, October 11
Boulder, Colo.
7:00 PM
Colorado
8-7,5-0Pac-12
1
vs
3
USC
9-6,2-3Pac-12
1
2
3
4
F
Southern California
26
25
23
25
3
Colorado
24
20
25
23
1
Photo by: Tim Benko, Benko Photographics
Trojans Escape Close Match With Colorado
October 11, 2019 | Volleyball
Buffs Fall to 0-5 in Pac-12 Play
BOULDER – A career-high night from senior Justine Spann wasn't enough for Colorado women's volleyball as the team fell in a four-set (26-24, 25-20, 23-25, 25-23) match in Boulder Friday evening.
A depleted Colorado (8-7, 0-5 Pac-12) team fell to the Trojans (9-6, 3-2 Pac-12) in a close match with three of the four sets decided by two points. With the loss the team falls to 0-5 in conference play and one game above .500 for the season.
Outside hitter Spann had a career night in an odd fashion. Despite being six kills from her career-high in kills, Spann marked a new best of 25.5 points after putting down 18 kills, a career-high five aces and five block assists. She hit .213 in the match and was targeted in the serving game with 40 receptions.
Spann was the largest beneficiary of setter Jenna Ewert's double-double night. She recorded more than 10 assists per set with 41 and also had 13 digs. She also contributed six kills. Freshman Elissa Alcantara stepped in for an injured Jill Schneggenburger, posting an impressive 12 kills and .143 hitting percentage in her career start. Both Sterling Parker and Meegan Hart chipped in seven kills.
On the defensive end, Rachel Whipple led all players with 17 digs. Colorado recorded 11.5 team blocks behind Lillie Klemmer's seven block assists. Alcantara, Parker and Hart all added three block assists of their own.
USC was led by Khalia Lanier's 20 kills. She was joined by Brooke Botkin's 13 and Jasmine Gross's 11 with a .455 hitting percentage. Gross also led the Trojans to 12.5 team blocks with eight block assists. Setter Raquel Lazaro had 47 assists and 15 digs.
Colorado showed out today despite missing two starters. This was the first time the team has hit greater than .200 in the conference play this season at .248. There were 20 ties and eight lead changes in the close battle. CU will look to recoup quickly as they take on UCLA Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN2.
HOW IT HAPPENED
CU took an early three-point lead to begin the first set. Colorado jumped into a 6-2 lead while hitting .500 and only allowing USC to hit -.167. Alcantara had a kill that put the Buffs up by two. The Trojans responded with a block and a kill which tied it up 8-8. After an impressive rally from both sides, USC put down a kill that gave them their first lead of the set, 9-8. USC pushed out to a three-point lead at the media timeout, 15-12. It was a battle between Lanier and Spann with Lanier hitting .857 with six kills and Spann hitting .625 with five. The Buffs came out of the break swinging behind Hart who had a kill and two aces as CU retook the lead, 17-16, forcing a USC timeout. Trojans return to the lead after a kill and service error from CU, 17-19, that forced a Colorado timeout. The Trojans were hitting .391 after their earlier slow start. The Buffs went on a 3-0 run that was assisted by a kill from Alcantara, pushing USC into their last timeout, 22-20. Trojans tied it back up with a block, then a Spann kill forced set-point, 24-23. The Trojans had back-to-back points to take set-point, forcing CU into a timeout. Next play an over pass led to a USC kill, ending the set 26-24. Lanier finished the set with nine kills and a .615 hitting percentage while Spann had seven and a .417 hitting percentage. USC led the battle up front with 6.5 blocks.
Buffs started the second set with a 3-0 run. Colorado held onto a three-point lead hitting .238 and USC hitting .300. CU challenged a four-hit call at 6-4 but was unsuccessful. Colorado was hitting well with a .556 hitting percentage while holding USC to .200 at 10-8. The Trojans battled back to tie it at 12 all. USC went on a 5-0 run that forced CU into a timeout at 14-12. Colorado called a timeout as the Trojans extended their run to seven-straight. Buffs ended the USC run out of the break with a Parker kill. The Trojans held onto a four-point lead and were hitting .259 while holding Colorado to a .161 hitting percentage. Colorado lost the second set to USC after a match point kill from Gross. Lanier pushed to 13 total kills while Spann picked up her 10th, but USC went on to hit .294 in the set.
The third set started out with each team going back-and-forth until CU pushed into a 5-2 lead. After a kill from Alcantara and Spann, the Buffs extended the CU lead to 7-2. Colorado was hitting well early in the third set at .333 and held USC to a hitting percentage of .111. After a service error from USC, Colorado took a 10-7 lead. After an impressive rally from both sides, Spann ended it with a kill giving the Buffs an 11-8 lead. Alcantara racked up her eighth kill as the Buffs lead by four into the media timeout. Spann picked up five kills in the set thus far pushing her total to 15 kills and four aces. The teams trade points as the Buffs extended their lead, 19-15. CU reached the 20-point mark after an Ewert dump, forcing a USC timeout. The Buffs took a five-point lead over the Trojans, 23-20. USC put down back-to-back points that forced a CU timeout at 23-22. A service error set up CU with set-point and a two-point lead, and the Buffs put it away two plays later behind a Parker kill. The Buffs hit .353 as a team during the set behind Ewert's 33 assists and 10 dig double-double.
As both teams entered the third set, they battled back-and-forth to tie the score at four all. Spann tallied her fifth ace on the next serve. Colorado and USC continued to evenly battle the score to a tie, 10-10. Colorado and USC were both hitting well with .467 and .462, respectively. At the media timeout Colorado continued to trail USC 15-13. Out of the break both teams traded points to a USC lead of 19-16. A timeout was called by Colorado as the Trojans hit the 20-point mark leading the Buffs by three. Back-to-back blocks forced the Trojans into a timeout as the Buffs closed the gap to one. CU tied it up after a ball handling error, but USC took a two-point advantage after a service error was followed up by an ace. A service error and attack error gave CU a chance with a one-point deficit, 23-22, then the team tied it up after a Spann killed forcing a USC timeout. The Trojans earned match point, sealing the win on the next play with a block.
QUOTES
Head Coach Jesse Mahoney
On The Match
"It is no fun to lose. It was good for us to play four competitive sets. We were in position to win in three of those and couldn't quite finish, but I was proud of our effort and the fact that we got better as the match went on. That's a really good team on the other side of the net. They do a lot of things that stress you out defensively. We did a nice job of following our scout and game plan. If we continue to do those things we will get on the other side of it pretty soon."
On The Play Of Freshman Sterling Parker and Elissa Alcantara
"Sterling has been out there all season and has been doing a nice job. She can be a streaky player but is super physical and slowed down their outside hitters. This was the first opportunity for Elissa to get a lot of playing time. I thought she did a nice job. There are things she can get better at, but she knows what those are. There Is no way to simulate that type of match it practice. You have to go through it. The next time she is on the floor she will be better and the next time a little better. it was good to see her do a lot of good things tonight."
On Improving
"If we play at this level and continue to get a little bit better we are going to start winning matches. It is no fun to lose. We don't like it. We have to continue to grow and get better. I felt like tonight was a step forward. That was as good of a match as we've played in the last five matches in the PAC-12. If we played that well we wouldn't be 0-5 right now. We have to buy into that and understand that. We have to show up on Sunday and continue to play our hearts out."
Senior Justine Spann
On What They Can Take Away From The Match
"It definitely helps being at home. We always talk about taking advantage of the energy at home. I felt like our team executed the game plan. We had been focusing a lot this week on dialing in on our scouting report. That helped us to be able to diversify the setting. In terms of passing, I thought we struggled in certain areas but thought it was really good to get neutral sets in there."
Sophomore Jenna Ewert
On Players Stepping Up
"Elissa hasn't been on the court a whole lot this season. Dani (Price) is off right now. When we have our prep practices it is a little bit more figuring out how to fill in for those (injured) people. Our bench is pretty deep. Jill is out, but Elissa did a really good job offensively. She got a lot of kills swinging high for us. Lillie (Klemmer) did a really good job. They are working hard. That is all we can really ask for. Everybody is always fighting for a spot. When they get a chance, they are going to do their best. That is what really helps them step in and play at their highest potential in the game."
A depleted Colorado (8-7, 0-5 Pac-12) team fell to the Trojans (9-6, 3-2 Pac-12) in a close match with three of the four sets decided by two points. With the loss the team falls to 0-5 in conference play and one game above .500 for the season.
Outside hitter Spann had a career night in an odd fashion. Despite being six kills from her career-high in kills, Spann marked a new best of 25.5 points after putting down 18 kills, a career-high five aces and five block assists. She hit .213 in the match and was targeted in the serving game with 40 receptions.
Spann was the largest beneficiary of setter Jenna Ewert's double-double night. She recorded more than 10 assists per set with 41 and also had 13 digs. She also contributed six kills. Freshman Elissa Alcantara stepped in for an injured Jill Schneggenburger, posting an impressive 12 kills and .143 hitting percentage in her career start. Both Sterling Parker and Meegan Hart chipped in seven kills.
On the defensive end, Rachel Whipple led all players with 17 digs. Colorado recorded 11.5 team blocks behind Lillie Klemmer's seven block assists. Alcantara, Parker and Hart all added three block assists of their own.
USC was led by Khalia Lanier's 20 kills. She was joined by Brooke Botkin's 13 and Jasmine Gross's 11 with a .455 hitting percentage. Gross also led the Trojans to 12.5 team blocks with eight block assists. Setter Raquel Lazaro had 47 assists and 15 digs.
Colorado showed out today despite missing two starters. This was the first time the team has hit greater than .200 in the conference play this season at .248. There were 20 ties and eight lead changes in the close battle. CU will look to recoup quickly as they take on UCLA Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN2.
HOW IT HAPPENED
CU took an early three-point lead to begin the first set. Colorado jumped into a 6-2 lead while hitting .500 and only allowing USC to hit -.167. Alcantara had a kill that put the Buffs up by two. The Trojans responded with a block and a kill which tied it up 8-8. After an impressive rally from both sides, USC put down a kill that gave them their first lead of the set, 9-8. USC pushed out to a three-point lead at the media timeout, 15-12. It was a battle between Lanier and Spann with Lanier hitting .857 with six kills and Spann hitting .625 with five. The Buffs came out of the break swinging behind Hart who had a kill and two aces as CU retook the lead, 17-16, forcing a USC timeout. Trojans return to the lead after a kill and service error from CU, 17-19, that forced a Colorado timeout. The Trojans were hitting .391 after their earlier slow start. The Buffs went on a 3-0 run that was assisted by a kill from Alcantara, pushing USC into their last timeout, 22-20. Trojans tied it back up with a block, then a Spann kill forced set-point, 24-23. The Trojans had back-to-back points to take set-point, forcing CU into a timeout. Next play an over pass led to a USC kill, ending the set 26-24. Lanier finished the set with nine kills and a .615 hitting percentage while Spann had seven and a .417 hitting percentage. USC led the battle up front with 6.5 blocks.
Buffs started the second set with a 3-0 run. Colorado held onto a three-point lead hitting .238 and USC hitting .300. CU challenged a four-hit call at 6-4 but was unsuccessful. Colorado was hitting well with a .556 hitting percentage while holding USC to .200 at 10-8. The Trojans battled back to tie it at 12 all. USC went on a 5-0 run that forced CU into a timeout at 14-12. Colorado called a timeout as the Trojans extended their run to seven-straight. Buffs ended the USC run out of the break with a Parker kill. The Trojans held onto a four-point lead and were hitting .259 while holding Colorado to a .161 hitting percentage. Colorado lost the second set to USC after a match point kill from Gross. Lanier pushed to 13 total kills while Spann picked up her 10th, but USC went on to hit .294 in the set.
The third set started out with each team going back-and-forth until CU pushed into a 5-2 lead. After a kill from Alcantara and Spann, the Buffs extended the CU lead to 7-2. Colorado was hitting well early in the third set at .333 and held USC to a hitting percentage of .111. After a service error from USC, Colorado took a 10-7 lead. After an impressive rally from both sides, Spann ended it with a kill giving the Buffs an 11-8 lead. Alcantara racked up her eighth kill as the Buffs lead by four into the media timeout. Spann picked up five kills in the set thus far pushing her total to 15 kills and four aces. The teams trade points as the Buffs extended their lead, 19-15. CU reached the 20-point mark after an Ewert dump, forcing a USC timeout. The Buffs took a five-point lead over the Trojans, 23-20. USC put down back-to-back points that forced a CU timeout at 23-22. A service error set up CU with set-point and a two-point lead, and the Buffs put it away two plays later behind a Parker kill. The Buffs hit .353 as a team during the set behind Ewert's 33 assists and 10 dig double-double.
As both teams entered the third set, they battled back-and-forth to tie the score at four all. Spann tallied her fifth ace on the next serve. Colorado and USC continued to evenly battle the score to a tie, 10-10. Colorado and USC were both hitting well with .467 and .462, respectively. At the media timeout Colorado continued to trail USC 15-13. Out of the break both teams traded points to a USC lead of 19-16. A timeout was called by Colorado as the Trojans hit the 20-point mark leading the Buffs by three. Back-to-back blocks forced the Trojans into a timeout as the Buffs closed the gap to one. CU tied it up after a ball handling error, but USC took a two-point advantage after a service error was followed up by an ace. A service error and attack error gave CU a chance with a one-point deficit, 23-22, then the team tied it up after a Spann killed forcing a USC timeout. The Trojans earned match point, sealing the win on the next play with a block.
QUOTES
Head Coach Jesse Mahoney
On The Match
"It is no fun to lose. It was good for us to play four competitive sets. We were in position to win in three of those and couldn't quite finish, but I was proud of our effort and the fact that we got better as the match went on. That's a really good team on the other side of the net. They do a lot of things that stress you out defensively. We did a nice job of following our scout and game plan. If we continue to do those things we will get on the other side of it pretty soon."
On The Play Of Freshman Sterling Parker and Elissa Alcantara
"Sterling has been out there all season and has been doing a nice job. She can be a streaky player but is super physical and slowed down their outside hitters. This was the first opportunity for Elissa to get a lot of playing time. I thought she did a nice job. There are things she can get better at, but she knows what those are. There Is no way to simulate that type of match it practice. You have to go through it. The next time she is on the floor she will be better and the next time a little better. it was good to see her do a lot of good things tonight."
On Improving
"If we play at this level and continue to get a little bit better we are going to start winning matches. It is no fun to lose. We don't like it. We have to continue to grow and get better. I felt like tonight was a step forward. That was as good of a match as we've played in the last five matches in the PAC-12. If we played that well we wouldn't be 0-5 right now. We have to buy into that and understand that. We have to show up on Sunday and continue to play our hearts out."
Senior Justine Spann
On What They Can Take Away From The Match
"It definitely helps being at home. We always talk about taking advantage of the energy at home. I felt like our team executed the game plan. We had been focusing a lot this week on dialing in on our scouting report. That helped us to be able to diversify the setting. In terms of passing, I thought we struggled in certain areas but thought it was really good to get neutral sets in there."
Sophomore Jenna Ewert
On Players Stepping Up
"Elissa hasn't been on the court a whole lot this season. Dani (Price) is off right now. When we have our prep practices it is a little bit more figuring out how to fill in for those (injured) people. Our bench is pretty deep. Jill is out, but Elissa did a really good job offensively. She got a lot of kills swinging high for us. Lillie (Klemmer) did a really good job. They are working hard. That is all we can really ask for. Everybody is always fighting for a spot. When they get a chance, they are going to do their best. That is what really helps them step in and play at their highest potential in the game."
Team Stats
USC
CU
Kills
61
53
Errors
20
19
Attempts
142
137
Hitting %
.289
.248
Points
80.5
72.5
Assists
56
46
Aces
7
8
Blocks
12.5
11.5
Game Leaders
Kills
18
Aces
5
Blocks
5
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
2
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ VolleyballMB
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballRS/MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
DS/L
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