Saturday, September 15
Boulder, CO
10:00 AM
Colorado
7-3
3
vs
0
Indiana State
6-5
1
2
3
F
Indiana State
16
18
23
0
Colorado
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Tim Benko, Benko Photographics
Smith Paves Way to Sweep Against Indiana State
September 15, 2018 | Volleyball
BOULDER, Colo. — Whether it was excitement on getting to 1,000 career kills or just picking the opponent apart, the University of Colorado volleyball senior Alexa Smith had herself a morning. The senior had matched a career-high in three-set match kills with 19 as she led the Buffs to the sweep (25-16, 25-18, 25-23) against Indiana State University. Smith needs just a pair of kills to become the 16th Buff to do so, and will look to accomplish the feat against in-state rivals Colorado State tonight at 8 p.m.
Smith was on a roll this morning, averaging more than six kills per set. Her 19 kills in a three-set match ties her own career-record in a sweep, something she did her sophomore year against Long Beach State. The senior was errorless through the first two sets, finishing the match with just three errors and a season-high .471 hitting percentage. She also had her third double-double of the season with a team-high 12 digs.
Also for the Buffs, Justine Spann and Naghede Abu each added nine kills. Abu, who hit .438 in the match, had a pair of blocks, while Spann had 10 digs. Spann was just a kill away from her second double-double of the season.
The setters Brynna DeLuzio and Jenna Ewert were on-point with 23 assists each. The duo helped lead the Buffs to its first 20-kill set of the season, as well as 17 kills in each of the other sets. The 15.33 assists per set the two combined for is by far a season-high.
On the defensive side of the ball, Danielle Price and Lauren Dorrell each had four block assists to lead Colorado. Price also went four-for-five in kills today with a .800 hitting percentage.
Tonight's matchup with the Rams looks to be a good one, as the teams come in with nearly identical records. Fans are encouraged to 'Wear Black' tonight in support of the Buffs.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
SET 1: The Buffs jumped out to a quick 5-2 lead, led by Alexa Smith with three early kills. While Colorado continued to hit well at .467, the teams traded points to 11-8. The Sycamores battled back to trail just 13-12. Smith continued to pick apart Indiana State, hitting multiple kills down the left line to find an 18-14 lead. The Buffs continued to charge to a 20-15 lead, forcing a Sycamore timeout. Smith continued to dominate, putting down her sixth kill of the set to force the break. Set-point would come on a Justine Spann kill, and the set was finished off by a Spann kill in a 25-16 win. The Buffs continued to hit well in opening sets with a .371 hitting percentage. Brynna DeLuzio dished out nine assists, while Smith had six kills and no errors while hitting .600.
SET 2: The teams started off with a tie at 3-3, with CU giving up its first lead at 4-3. Indiana State continued to lead to a 7-5 lead, but Alexa Smith kept charging with her ninth kill of the match to bring it within one. She would hit double-digits in kills while bringing the set to a tie at nine apiece. The Sycamores retook the lead and ran to a 15-12 lead, but CU rallied back with Naghede Abu picking up her sixth kill and Smith tying it with her 11th kill. The Buffs took hold of the set with a 19-16 lead, forcing a Sycamore timeout. CU hit set-point at 24-18, finishing it off with a Gabby Carta-Samuels ace.
SET 3: Indiana State came out with consecutive blocks and a 5-2 lead. CU continued to trail at 8-5, but Alexa Smith brought the charge back with her 14th kill of the set, just seven away from 1,000 career kills. The teams battled to a 15-14 CU lead, led by Smith who picked up a double-double with 17 kills and 10 digs. CU hit match-point at 24-21, finishing off the set with a service error at 25-23. Smith closed out with 19 kills, just a pair of kills from 1,000 career kills.
QUOTABLES:
Head Coach Jesse Mahoney
On the match and how the team played:
We are happy to get a sweep anytime we play anybody. Indiana State is a very good team. Both teams had a very quick turnaround, which is always hard, sometimes physically but mostly mentally to be out there and play a match. There were times we lost focus and didn't play as well as we could, but we certainly did a lot of things well. I thought Lex had a great match and Naghede and Danielle got involved a little more which was good. The nice about our team is maybe some people have an off-matches offensively, but we have other people that are going to be on during those times and we just need to ride the right players at the right times.
Smith was on a roll this morning, averaging more than six kills per set. Her 19 kills in a three-set match ties her own career-record in a sweep, something she did her sophomore year against Long Beach State. The senior was errorless through the first two sets, finishing the match with just three errors and a season-high .471 hitting percentage. She also had her third double-double of the season with a team-high 12 digs.
Also for the Buffs, Justine Spann and Naghede Abu each added nine kills. Abu, who hit .438 in the match, had a pair of blocks, while Spann had 10 digs. Spann was just a kill away from her second double-double of the season.
The setters Brynna DeLuzio and Jenna Ewert were on-point with 23 assists each. The duo helped lead the Buffs to its first 20-kill set of the season, as well as 17 kills in each of the other sets. The 15.33 assists per set the two combined for is by far a season-high.
On the defensive side of the ball, Danielle Price and Lauren Dorrell each had four block assists to lead Colorado. Price also went four-for-five in kills today with a .800 hitting percentage.
Tonight's matchup with the Rams looks to be a good one, as the teams come in with nearly identical records. Fans are encouraged to 'Wear Black' tonight in support of the Buffs.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
SET 1: The Buffs jumped out to a quick 5-2 lead, led by Alexa Smith with three early kills. While Colorado continued to hit well at .467, the teams traded points to 11-8. The Sycamores battled back to trail just 13-12. Smith continued to pick apart Indiana State, hitting multiple kills down the left line to find an 18-14 lead. The Buffs continued to charge to a 20-15 lead, forcing a Sycamore timeout. Smith continued to dominate, putting down her sixth kill of the set to force the break. Set-point would come on a Justine Spann kill, and the set was finished off by a Spann kill in a 25-16 win. The Buffs continued to hit well in opening sets with a .371 hitting percentage. Brynna DeLuzio dished out nine assists, while Smith had six kills and no errors while hitting .600.
SET 2: The teams started off with a tie at 3-3, with CU giving up its first lead at 4-3. Indiana State continued to lead to a 7-5 lead, but Alexa Smith kept charging with her ninth kill of the match to bring it within one. She would hit double-digits in kills while bringing the set to a tie at nine apiece. The Sycamores retook the lead and ran to a 15-12 lead, but CU rallied back with Naghede Abu picking up her sixth kill and Smith tying it with her 11th kill. The Buffs took hold of the set with a 19-16 lead, forcing a Sycamore timeout. CU hit set-point at 24-18, finishing it off with a Gabby Carta-Samuels ace.
SET 3: Indiana State came out with consecutive blocks and a 5-2 lead. CU continued to trail at 8-5, but Alexa Smith brought the charge back with her 14th kill of the set, just seven away from 1,000 career kills. The teams battled to a 15-14 CU lead, led by Smith who picked up a double-double with 17 kills and 10 digs. CU hit match-point at 24-21, finishing off the set with a service error at 25-23. Smith closed out with 19 kills, just a pair of kills from 1,000 career kills.
QUOTABLES:
Head Coach Jesse Mahoney
On the match and how the team played:
We are happy to get a sweep anytime we play anybody. Indiana State is a very good team. Both teams had a very quick turnaround, which is always hard, sometimes physically but mostly mentally to be out there and play a match. There were times we lost focus and didn't play as well as we could, but we certainly did a lot of things well. I thought Lex had a great match and Naghede and Danielle got involved a little more which was good. The nice about our team is maybe some people have an off-matches offensively, but we have other people that are going to be on during those times and we just need to ride the right players at the right times.
Team Stats
INS
COLO
Kills
26
54
Errors
14
25
Attempts
96
115
Hitting %
.125
.252
Points
37.0
61.0
Assists
26
50
Aces
4
1
Blocks
7.0
6.0
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
19
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
S/L
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOH
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