Buffs Home For Colorado Classic Tournament

BOULDER, Colo. — The University of Colorado volleyball team stays home for the second consecutive week to host the 2018 Colorado Classic. Colorado will kick things off with a match up with Portland State Friday evening at 7 p.m. in the CU Events Center, then follow up with a double-header against Indiana State at 10 a.m. and Colorado State at 8 p.m. Saturday night's match against the Rams is a 'Wear Black' night.

Due to the football game at 3 p.m., fans are required to access campus from Broadway and Regent Drive. Lots 440 and the Event Center/Regent parking garage are available for volleyball parking. See map for more information.

The Buffs are coming off of a 2-1 weekend in the Buffs Invitational. The team finished off the double-header Saturday with sweeps of Oklahoma and North Carolina, led by All-Tournament selections Alexa Smith and Anyse Smith. Senior captain Alexa Smith leads the team with 3.72 kills per set, joined by Justine Spann with 3.48 kills per set. The duo has become a trio, as Anyse Smith hit more than .500 in the tournament and now leads the team with a .381 hitting percentage. The three have combined for 275 kills this season.

Also for Colorado, the setter duo of Brynna DeLuzio and Jenna Ewert is hitting full stride. The pair each have more than 100 assists this season, led by DeLuzio's 190. Ewert picked up her second double-double of the season this weekend with career-highs in assists (27) and digs (12).

The Buffs on the defensive side of the ball had tests in the first matchup last weekend against Georgia. After posting a season-low in blocks, the team bounced back to put up 19 blocks in six sets on Saturday. Down some players in the middle, junior Lillie Klemmer stepped up with 12 block assists during the Saturday sweeps. She now leads the team with 34 total blocks.

While Klemmer anchors the front, Rachel Whipple has taken over the back row. The sweeps wouldn't have happened without her averaging more than five digs per set in the two matchups. She put up 16 and 15 digs in each the sweeps, good for her second and third best performance in total digs and best in digs per set this season.

SCOUTING THE VIKINGS: Portland State has had a rough start to the season, winning its first match against Long Beach State in a sweep, then losing eight-straight matches, including five in sweeps. The Vikings are led by Jenna Mullen with 93 kills this season. The team has allowed 69 aces this season and more than 75 blocks, while having just under 50 blocks this season as a team. Libero Mackenzie Sullivan is averaging four digs per set, while Katy Wilson has 32 blocks this season.

SCOUTING THE SYCAMORES: The Sycamores are 6-3 entering the Colorado Classic. Two of the team's three losses have come in five-set matches against Central Michigan and Oakland. The team also was swept by Tennessee, but has wins against Green Bay and Saint Louis, both matches going five-sets as well. Indiana State is led by Laura Gross, who is averaging nearly three kills per set. The setter Makayla Knoblauch has 368 assists, nearly 10 per set. On defense, the backrow is split with a pair of players with nearly 150 digs in Jade York and Nikkie White. Up front, middle Damadj Johnson leads the way with 47 of the team's 77.5 blocks this season.

SCOUTING THE RAMS: The in-state rivalry continues, this time in Boulder. Last year's comeback loss in Fort Collins will be sure to be on the team's mind, as the Rams enter with a 6-3 record. Against then-No.12 ranked Illinois in the season and home opener the Rams fell in five-sets, a team that the Buffs were swept by. The two other losses have come from Cincinnati in four at home and to No.20 Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Key wins have come against LSU in a sweep, as well as Florida State in five at home. Breana Runnels leads the Rams with 121 kills, followed closely by Kirstie Hillyer. Setter Katie Oleksak leads the team with 372 assists, nearly 11 per set. The team has been solid serving, with three individuals with 10 or more aces this season. On the defense end Maddi Foutz leads with 104 digs, while the up front defense has come from Hillyer and Paulina Hougaard-Jensen. Hillyer leads with 45 blocks, while Hougaard-Jensen has 40. The two have combined for all but six of the Ram's blocks.

WHAT'S NEXT: Colorado opens Pac-12 conference play next Wednesday when it hosts Utah at 7 p.m. The Buffs will have a longer than normal break between matches, hosting the University of Southern California Sunday at 1 p.m. Wednesday's match is a player night, while USC will be a 'photos with Ralphie' day. Fans can come and get their picture with Ralphie an hour before the match.

TICKET INFORMATION
Single match tickets start at just $8 for general admission and $10 for reserved seating. Season tickets start at $40 for general admission and are $55 for reserved seating, Kids 12 and under are free this season. Fans can purchase tickets online at CUBuffs.com or by calling 303-49-BUFFS.

And don't forget about the Women's Sports Pass. For just $125, the Women's sports pass gives you general admission seating for all volleyball, soccer and women's basketball home games.

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Players Mentioned

Brynna DeLuzio

Jenna Ewert

Lillie Klemmer

Alexa Smith

Anyse Smith

Justine Spann

Rachel Whipple