BUFFS PREVAIL OVER KU IN FIVE-GAME THRILLER

Friday, October 24

Boulder, Colo.

7:00 p.m.

Colorado

Kansas

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

October 24, 2003 | Volleyball

By: Troy Andre, Assistant SID

BOULDER ? Sophomore outside hitter Maragda Santillana had a career-high 24 kills to lead the University of Colorado to a wild 31-29, 26-30, 30-26, 20-30, 15-13 Big 12 Conference victory over the University of Kansas Friday night at the Coors Events Conference Center.

CU, which has won eight straight matches at the CECC, improves to 14-7 overall and is just one win shy of its 2002 win total (15-15). KU falls to 14-8. The win allows the Buffs to pull even with the Jayhawks for fifth place in the Big 12 at 6-5.

It wasn't easy for the home squad, which endured about as many swings in momentum as the 690 in attendance. Kansas won game four comfortably, 30-20, and jumped on the Buffs for an 8-2 lead in game five. The Jayhawks built their lead to 10-5, when CU stormed back. Senior Monique Gerlach recorded one of her 15 kills to cut the lead to 10-6. The Buffs promptly scored the next five points on the serve of Monica Vesanovic, including a pair of aces by the senior defensive specialist, to put CU up 11-10.

The Buffs took advantage of two KU hitting errors and received kills from Gerlach and setter Ashley Nu'u to close the match.

“Kansas has always been such a tough battle for us,” Gerlach said. “We got some critical blocks at the end and that was very important. It's a great feeling to win.”

Gerlach finished with 15 kills, becoming just the fifth Buff to reach 1,300 career kills (1,311). The senior captain also had 11 digs to tally the double-double. Junior setter Allison Barnes joined the 1,000 assists club, becoming just the sixth Buff to reach that milestone.

CU fought back from a 24-19 deficit in game one for a 31-29 win. A three-game sweep looked possible when the Buffs held an 18-9 lead in game two, but the Jayhawks seized back momentum by embarking on a furious rally. KU cut the lead to 26-23, and then scored the final seven points of the game, to tie the match at 1-1. CU played well in game three, winning by four points, before the Jayhawks cruised through game four with a 10-point win.

Sophomore Allie Griffin had 13 kills and a team-high five blocks while sophomore Nicole Carr had a match-high 19 digs.

“That's a good win for us,” CU head coach Pi'i Aiu said. “Our kids did a great job fighting all night and we just need to keep working hard. This is a great start for the beginning of the second half (of conference play).”

The Buffs continue Big 12 action, Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Iowa State University, at 6 p.m. MST.