Colorado University Athletics
Gearing Up for the Stretch Run
The Stampede
October 2004 Issue
Feature ? Volleyball
As the Lady Buffs Head into Conference Play, the Action on the Volleyball Court Heats Up
by Ted Yhedri
It’s crunch time for the University of Colorado women’s volleyball team. The schedule has hit the midway point, conference play is well underway and the ultimate fate of the season rests in the balance. Can the team make a legitimate run at earning a trip to Long Beach, the host city for the 2004 NCAA Championships? From now through the end of the regular season on Nov. 27 at Kansas, the Lady Buffs will determine just how high they can soar in a year that has been an up-and-down affair.
September was an eventful, and memorable, month for the Lady Buffs. It saw CU get out of the gates strong, post some big victories and jump into the national rankings. But it wasn’t all good news. During the same stretch, Colorado stubbed its toe in conference play, setting the stage for a pivotal stretch run.
After beating the University of Denver in decisive fashion to open the season and winning two out of three matches at the Oregon Classic, CU rolled into their match-up against seventh-ranked Colorado State teeming with confidence. Despite a solid team effort, however, it was not meant to be for the Lady Buffs. Colorado dropped all three games to the Rams, losing by a total of 11 points.
This setback could have been demoralizing, as a valiant effort against a top 10 team went for naught. But CU used it as motivation, going on a tear after the CSU loss. Included in their run of success were victories over two ranked teams. They beat No. 20 San Diego in the Colorado Invitational and dismantled No. 16 Kansas State to open conference play.
Sitting at 6-2, the Lady Buffs were garnering national attention. Not even a five-game loss at Texas could derail their momentum, as Colorado found itself in the top 25 for the first time since 2002 when the rankings were revealed on Sept. 20. A second straight defeat, this time at the hands of seventh-ranked Nebraska, couldn’t knock the Lady Buffs off their perch. And back-to-back wins against Baylor and at Texas Tech kept CU at No. 25 for consecutive weeks.
Since that time, however, Colorado has been up and down, winning some and losing a few. As a result, they’ve slid out of the polls ? garnering a few votes, but not enough to crack the top 25. It’s a place they hope to return, something they’ll have to accomplish by posting victories in Big XII play, a gauntlet of a schedule that lies ahead.
In the coming weeks, the Lady Buffs will face off against four conference opponents that are currently ranked ? Kansas State, Nebraska, Texas and Texas A&M ? as well as two schools that have spent some time in the polls during the 2004 season ? Kansas and Missouri. Those types of opponents will pose a tremendous challenge, but also serve as a grand opportunity. With a few key victories, Colorado may once again leap into the polls. And they’ll put themselves in prime position for a postseason push.
In order to finish strong, CU will have to count on their main guns to continue playing well. Junior Allie Griffin has led the Lady Buffs attack all season, leading the team in kills per game. Setting her up has been Colorado’s new assist machine, sophomore Ashley Nu’u ? a rising star on Pi’i Aiu’s roster. On the defensive side of things, junior Nicole Carr continues to perform at a high level, leading the team in digs once again this season, while sophomore Lara Bossow has developed into a formidable blocker. These four ? along with Allison Barnes, Kelly Masumiya, Maragda Santillana and Austin Zimmerman ? will be counted on heavily during the season’s stretch run.