Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Teams Off To Hot Starts Against Quality Competition
September 10, 2019 | Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — It has been a very good start so far for the Colorado Athletic Department's fall sports programs.
Three of the Buffs fall championship sports — soccer, volleyball and football — are undefeated, with two of them breaking into the nation's top 25 this week. Jesse Mahoney's volleyball team is 5-0 and ranked No. 19 in the latest poll; Danny Sanchez's soccer team is 6-0 and ranked No. 24; and Mel Tucker's football team is 2-0 and received votes this week in both the Associated Press and USA Today/Coaches polls.
The Buffs have had similar fast starts in recent years. But what might separate this season from years past is the level of competition the CU teams have faced. Each of the three — soccer, volleyball and football — have already beaten one nationally ranked team.
"I couldn't be more pleased with all of our sports programs and the start we've gotten off to this fall," Athletic Director Rick George said. "Not only are we undefeated but we are beating nationally ranked opponents. It's a testament to the coaches for scheduling high quality competition to get our teams ready for conference play."
— The soccer team's 6-0 start, all at home, is the best homestand to open the season in program history. It included a 2-1 win over No. 24 Texas and a 1-0 victory over two-time defending Big 12 champ and Elite Eight participant Baylor, and freshman Roo Yarnell-Williams, who had two goals for the Buffs last week, was named to Top Drawer Soccer's Team of the Week.
This week, the Buffs head to Tallahassee, Fla., for a Thursday meeting with defending national champion Florida State (currently ranked 6th in the nation). The Buffs return home next week for a Sept. 19 meeting against Northern Colorado (4 p.m.) at Prentup Field, then play at the University of Denver on Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m.Â
— The volleyball team's 5-0 start has been sparked by a mixture of returning starters and newcomers. Last weekend, the Buffs turned heads in a big way with a sweep of fifth-ranked Illinois in the Pac-12/Big Ten Challenge.Â
The Buffs are 15-1 in sets this season, with four sweeps in five matches, and last week had two players honored by the Pac-12. Redshirt sophomore Meegan Hart was named the conference Defensive Player of the Week while freshman Jill Schneggenburger was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week.
This week, the Buffs will square off with in-state rival Colorado State in a rare home-and-home series. Colorado will travel to Fort Collins on Thursday for a 7 p.m. match with the Rams at Moby Arena, then return to Boulder on Friday to host CSU in a 6 p.m. match at the Events Center.
— The football team is 2-0 after a pair of wins over historic rivals. CU opened the season with a 52-31 win over CSU in Tucker's Colorado debut, then took a thrilling 34-31 come-from-behind win over 25th-ranked Nebraska last weekend in the Buffs' home opener. Colorado's Mustafa Johnson, who had three sacks in the game, was named the Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against NU.
This week, the Buffs will make it a third straight game against a historic rival when CU plays host to Air Force in an 11 a.m. game Saturday at Folsom Field (Pac-12 Network).
Also already this fall, Roy Edwards' men's golf team claimed the team title in its first test, the Air Force Invitational; the women's cross country team opened the season ranked No. 1 in the nation and the men No. 4; and Anne Kelly's women's golf team finished fifth in the SMU Invitational, with Kirsty Hodgkins finishing second in the individual chase.
"This has been a great start but it's just the tip of the iceberg," George said. "I can't wait to see the success we have the rest of the year."
Â
