Colorado University Athletics

BUFFS FACE NO. 20 K-STATE, OKLAHOMA THIS WEEK

BUFFS FACE NO. 20 K-STATE, OKLAHOMA THIS WEEK

THE MATCHES: Colorado continues Big 12 Conference action on Wednesday, Nov. 10, at No. 20 Kansas State at 6 p.m. MST in Manhattan, Kan. The Buffaloes will return home to host Oklahoma on Saturday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. in the Coors Events Conference Center.

ON THE SEASON: Colorado is 11-11 overall in 2004 and in sixth place in the Big 12 at 6-9. The Buffaloes, who are one-half game ahead of Kansas in the league standings, need to win four of their last five regular season matches to finish .500 in conference play. With the Kansas State match Wednesday, the Buffs will play their third straight against a ranked team the last two of which have been on the road. CU will finish the regular season with four teams currently seventh place or lower in the conference standings. Colorado has lost six of its last seven matches, the first such streak since 1987, the programGÇÖs second season of varsity status. Four of the six losses in that stretch have come against teams ranked in the AVCA Top 25.

Junior right side hitter Allie Griffin and junior outside Maragda Santillana are both averaging over four kills per game and are ranked fifth and sixth in the Big 12 respectively. However, the Buffaloes are likely to be without Santillana again this week as she is out indefinitely with a rotator cuff injury to her right shoulder. In her place, sophomore Amber NuGÇÖu has started the last three matches totalling 12 kills and 23 digs in the three outings. 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 nine kills over the past two outings including six at Texas A&M.

Sophomore Ashley NuGÇÖu runs the BuffsGÇÖ offense at setter averaging 12.17 assists per game. She is currently sixth on the schoolGÇÖs all-time assists (1,282) and needs just 87 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 (71) and is averaging 1.77 digs per game during the conference season.

Junior outside Nicole Carr continues to lead the Buffaloes in digs (2.59 dpg) with Griffin not too far behind (2.50 dpg). Carr, CUGÇÖs active career leader in digs, ranks third on the team in kills (2.41 kpg).

CUGÇÖs middle blocker combination of sophomores Lara Bossow and Austin Zimmerman are combining for 3.41 kills and 2.06 blocks per game. Defensively, junior Kelly Masumiya and freshman Therese Vi?al have been solid in the libero position averaging 1.23 and 2.13 digs per game respectively.

For the complete release and statistics click the link below (pdf).