No. 21 Colorado Falls to Cincinnati in Three

Friday, November 21

Cincinnati, Ohio

4:30 PM

Colorado

22-7,12-5Big 12

Cincinnati

15-11,7-9Big 12

Colorado

Cincinnati

November 21, 2025 | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score Get Tickets Donate to Volleyball!

By: Malala Pyle, Assistant Director of Athletic Communication

CINCINNATI – The 21st-ranked Colorado volleyball team (22-7, 12-5 Big 12) fell to Cincinnati (15-11, 7-9 Big 12) in three sets (15-25, 16-25, 16-25) at Fifth Third Arena on Friday, Nov. 21.

The Buffs fought hard in all three sets but couldn't overcome the Bearcats on their home turf.

"A disappointing result," head coach Jesse Mahoney said. "A match where Cincinnati did everything right and we couldn't get going. We've been a really good defensive team this year – we haven't let anyone hit for those kind of numbers. We just couldn't slow them down for whatever reason, and we lost some discipline once we got down."

KEY PLAYERS:

Jr. PIN Sydney Jordan finished with eight kills, three digs and two assists.
So. MB Maria Splawska had eight kills (1e, 15att, hitting .467), four blocks and one dig.
Jr. PIN Ana Burilovic had six kills, eight digs, three blocks (one solo) and one assist.
Jr. MB Cayla Payne collected four kills.
Sr. S Rian Finley had 19 assists, two kills and seven digs.
Jr. PIN Lily Dwinell had two blocks, one kill and one dig.
Jr. DS/L Peyton Neal had eight digs and three assists.
Sr. DS/L Sarah Morton had three digs.
Fr. S Audrey Asleson had an assist, and Fr. PIN Inés Losada had an ace.
For the Bearcats, Sydney Nolan had 19 kills, and Lily Gillespie had 12 digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Buffaloes saw early runs from the Bearcats and called their first timeout after five unanswered points (10-4, CIN). A kill from Jordan ended the Cincinnati run (12-5, CIN). Two kills from Splawska and a Splawska-Dwinell block brought the Buffs within five (14-9, CIN). Colorado called its second timeout after a 3-0 run from the Bearcats (20-12, CIN). The Buffaloes scored from Finley and Splawska kills, but a final run from Cincinnati saw the Bearcats taking set one, 25-15.
Colorado went on a 6-0 run early off kills from Jordan, Splawska and Burilovic (6-2, CU). A Burilovic-Splawska block and two Payne kills maintained the Buffs' lead (9-7, CU). Colorado gave up nine unanswered points, calling a timeout to try to stop the run (16-9, UC). The Buffs saw kills from Burilovic and Payne, and a Losada ace to come within four (18-14, UC). The Bearcats had another 5-0 run to close out the set (25-16, UC).
The Bearcats went on an early run, stopped by a Jordan kill and a Burilovic solo block (8-5, UC). The Buffs saw kills from Jordan and Dwinell, and a Burilovic-Splawska block to stay in it (13-10, UC). The Bearcats continued to pull ahead, and the Buffs notched kills from Finley, Payne, Jordan, Splawska and Burilovic before Cincinnati took it, 25-16.

UP NEXT

No. 21 Colorado returns home for Senior Day next Saturday, Nov. 29, against BYU. First serve is set for 1 p.m. MT. The match will be streamed on ESPN+, and fans can follow along via live stats links on CUBuffs.com.
CU will honor senior DS/L Sarah Morton and senior setter Rian Finley for Senior Day.

MATCH NOTES:

The Buffs move to 2-1 versus the Bearcats all-time.
The Buffaloes got their third 3-0 loss of the season and are 10-3 in three-set matches.

For more information on the Colorado women's volleyball team, a complete schedule and results, please visit CUBuffs.com. Fans of the Buffs can follow the team on Instagram and on Twitter @CUBuffsVB.