Buffs Sweep Wildcats on Senior Day

BOULDER – The Colorado volleyball team (13-16, 6-11 Big 12) defeated the Kansas State Wildcats (10-16, 8-9 Big 12) in three sets (25-21, 25-21, 25-21) at CU Events Center on Wednesday afternoon.

The Buff seniors led the team to beat the Wildcats in a sweep. All five seniors were able to aid Colorado in its win over Kansas State.

"Really exciting match," head coach Jesse Mahoney stated. "Won [in] three at home on senior day. Everyone shared in the victory. Everyone got an opportunity. I was really excited for the level of play and excited that all the seniors got in and had an opportunity to help us out and help us win. Winning is fun. It's been a little bit of a tough go, but I've been really proud with how our players have handled adversity. Really proud of them for getting it today."

Colorado out-blocked Kansas State with six total blocks, and the Buffs held the Wildcats to .190 hitting. CU also out-aced Kansas State with seven service aces.

During today's match, CU recognized all five seniors in defensive specialist Emma Torstenson, defensive specialist Emilea Stepaniuk, outside hitter Jahara Campbell, middle blocker Bella Simkus and setter Taylor Simpson. After the game, the seniors reflected on the game.

"I think with the friendships that we've created on our team, it really does not matter how old you are, who's playing, who's not," Simkus said. "We all are really such great friends. I think that's like a standard that was set before we got here, and it's one that I believe will continue forever. I think that's one of the best things I'm going to take and leave from here."

KEY PLAYERS:

So. OH Ana Burilovic led the match with 17 kills (4e, 38att, hitting .342) making this her 24th match with double-digit kills. She also had six digs and one ace.
Sr. S Taylor Simpson had 27 assists, four kills (0e, 9att, hitting .444) and one ace.
So. OPP Lily Dwinell earned the Buffs eight points with six kills (1e, 17att), four blocks and one ace.
So. MB Cayla Payne ended the match with five kills (2e, 11att, hitting .273) and three blocks.
So. OH Sydney Jordan hit 300 career kills with her four kills (3e, 4att). She also had two digs and an ace, keeping the opponent out of system on 67% of her serves.
Jr. DS/L Sarah Morton had eight digs (dug 73%), four assists and two aces, and So. DS/L Avery Bolles tied for most aces of the match with two aces, who kept Kansas State out of system on 79% of her serves.
Sr. MB Bella Simkus finished the match with three kills (0e, 5att, hitting .600), her 14th match with zero hitting errors this season, and recorded the only solo block of the match. She totaled for three blocks on the night
Sr. OH Jahara Campbell ended with five digs, digging 83% of the balls hit her way, and CU scored on 71% of her serve.
Sr. DS/L Emilia Stepaniuk had six digs and Sr. DS/L Emma Torstenson had two digs.
For the Wildcats, Aniya Clinton had 12 kills and Ella Larkin had 14 digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Colorado started off the Senior Day match with a 3-0 run, including a service ace from Burilovic, to give Colorado an early lead (5-3). A second service ace from Bolles kept the Buffaloes' momentum going (7-5, CU). Both teams traded points throughout the first set, with blocks from Dwinell and Simkus keeping the Wildcats on their toes, and a solo block from Simkus bringing the Buffs to the lead once again (16-15). Another 3-0 run for Colorado pushed Kansas State into its first timeout of the game (21-17, CU), but the Buffs returned with back-to-back aces from Morton and a 6-0 run (23-17). Burilovic sealed the set for the Black and Gold with a crucial kill, 25-21.
The seniors shined like gems throughout the second set. The Buffs came back to the court swinging in the second set, jumping to an early 5-0 lead with Campbell's sharp serving and back-to-back kills from Burilovic. A Dwinell-Simkus block continued the pressure from the Buffaloes, forcing Kansas State into a timeout (5-0, CU). Colorado maintained control with kills from Payne, Burilovic and Simpson (9-4, CU). Simpson followed up her second kill of the afternoon with an ace, sending the Buffs on another 3-0 run (14-6, CU). The Wildcats put up a good fight, but a killer block by Dwinell and Payne finished out the second set for the Buffs, 25-21.
A kill from Dwinell started out the third set for Colorado (1-0, CU). Both teams continued to trade points, but two kills from Simpson continued the Buffaloes' lead on a 4-0 run (14-10). Kansas State contracted Colorado's lead, but the Buffs kept the momentum in the middle of the third set with kills from Simkus, Dwinell, Jordan and Burilovic to keep a Kansas State lead at bay (21-18, CU). The set tied at 21-21, but the Buffs capitalized on key mistakes from the Wildcats to regain momentum with a 4-0 run. A kill from Burilovic closed out the Colorado Senior Day with a Buffs win, 25-21.

UP NEXT:

The Buffs have one match remaining in the 2024 season – a road match against Houston on Saturday. First serve against the Cougars is set for 1 p.m. MT on Nov. 30. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+ and links to watch are available at CUBuffs.com.

MATCH NOTES:

Colorado moves to 27-23 all-time against Kansas State.
So. OH Sydney Jordan recorded her 300th career kill with her fourth kill over the night.
This is the Buffs' 12th match this season with more blocks than the opponent and the 10th with a higher hitting percentage.

For more information on the Colorado volleyball team, please visit cubuffs.com/vb. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffsvb on Instagram, X, and Facebook.

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Team Stats

Ana Burilović

Lily Dwinell

Cayla Payne

Taylor Simpson

Players Mentioned

Avery Bolles

Jahara Campbell

Lily Dwinell

Sydney Jordan

Sarah Morton

Cayla Payne

Bella Simkus

Taylor Simpson

Emilea Stepaniuk

Emma Torstenson

Players Mentioned

Avery Bolles

Jahara Campbell

Lily Dwinell

Sydney Jordan

Sarah Morton

Cayla Payne

Bella Simkus

Taylor Simpson

Emilea Stepaniuk

Emma Torstenson