Colorado University Athletics

BUFFS FACE MUST-WIN MATCH AT BAYLOR WEDNESDAY

BUFFS FACE MUST-WIN MATCH AT BAYLOR WEDNESDAY
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Match Notes - Baylor

THE MATCH: Colorado will travel to play the Baylor Bears on Wednesday, Nov. 17, for a 6 p.m. MST match in Waco, Texas. The Buffaloes will then enjoy the second of two Big 12 Conference byes this weekend before finishing the regular season schedule next week.

ON THE SEASON: Colorado is 12-12 overall in 2004 and in sixth place in the Big 12 at 7-10, one-half game up on Kansas. The Buffaloes need to win their last three regular season matches to finish .500 in conference play. CU, coming off a string of three-straight losses against ranked teams, got back into the win column with a three-game home win over Oklahoma on Nov. 13. The Buffs will finish the regular season with three teams currently seventh place or lower in the conference standings. Colorado has lost seven of its nine matches, the first such streak since 1987, the programGÇÖs second season of varsity status. Five of the seven losses in that stretch have come against teams ranked in the AVCA Top 25.

Junior right side hitter Allie Griffin leads the Buffaloes with 4.21 kills per game which ranks fifth in the Big 12. She is also secoond on the squad in digs (2.45 dpg) and blocks (0.94 bpg). Colorado has been without a major part of its offensive punch as junior outside hitter Maragda Santillana has missed the last five matches, and is out indefinitely, with a rotator cuff injury to her right shoulder. Santillana was averaging 4.17 kills per game which still ranks sixth in the Big 12. In her place sophomore Amber NuGÇÖu has filled in nicely averaging nearly three kills per game over her last five starts. Freshman Amber Sutherland has also seen her playing time increase with the loss of Santillana. Sutherland, who played in just four of the seasonGÇÖs first 20 matches, has 10 kills over her past three outings including six at Texas A&M.

Sophomore Ashley NuGÇÖu runs the BuffsGÇÖ offense at setter averaging 12.13 assists per game. She is currently sixth on the schoolGÇÖs all-time assists (1,364) and needs just five assists to become the 15th setter in team history with 1,000 assists in a season. Senior setter Allison Barnes has played more of a defensive role in 2004, but is still second on the squad in assists (73) and is averaging 1.81 digs per game during the conference season.

Defensively, junior outside Nicole Carr continues to lead the Buffaloes in digs (2.65 dpg). CUGÇÖs active career leader in digs with 854, Carr also ranks third on the team in kills (2.43 kpg).

CUGÇÖs middle blocker combination of sophomores Lara Bossow and Austin Zimmerman are combining for 3.43 kills and 2.04 blocks per game. Junior Kelly Masumiya and freshman Therese Vi?al have been solid in the libero position averaging 1.18 and 2.07 digs per game respectively.