Buffs Rematch with Wildcats and No. 9 Sun Devils

BOULDER – The Colorado volleyball team (12-14, 5-9 Big 12) is in its final stretch of the season. With only four matches left, the Buffs take on the Arizona Wildcats (16-9, 5-9 Big 12) and ninth-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils (26-2, 14-1 Big 12) at home this week.

The Black and Gold will play two former Pac-12 foes at CU Events Center – the Wildcats on Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. MT and No. 9 Sun Devils on Nov. 23 at 12 p.m. MT. CU and Arizona met earlier this season on Oct. 16 in Tucson where the Buffs picked up a five-set victory over the Wildcats, and later that same week (Oct. 18) Colorado lost in three to ASU in Tempe. This is the 27th meeting all-time between CU and both of this week's rivals.

Colorado picked up a win over Iowa State on the road last week. The Buffs earned their second conference win in a row in the four-set contest with the Cyclones. CU is now 41-17 all-time against Iowa State.

THIS WEEK
MATCH #1 • Thursday, November 21 • 6 p.m. MT
Colorado (11-14, 4-9 Big 12) vs. Arizona (16-9, 5-9 Big 12)
CU Events Center • Boulder, Colo.
SERIES RECORD: 12-14, Arizona Leads
LAST MEETING: W, 3-2 (October 16, 2024 • Tucson, Ariz.)
STREAK: Won 1 • LAST 10 MEETINGS: 4-6
TV: ESPN+
OPPONENT WEBSITE: ArizonaWildcats.com

MATCH #2 • Saturday, November 23 • 12 p.m. MT
Colorado (11-14, 4-9 Big 12) vs. Arizona State (26-2, 14-1 Big 12)
CU Events Center • Boulder, Colo.
SERIES RECORD: 13-13, TIED
LAST MEETING: L, 0-3 (October 18, 2024 • Tempe, Ariz.)
STREAK: Lost 2 • LAST 10 MEETINGS: 5-5
TV: ESPN+
OPPONENT WEBSITE: TheSunDevils.com

FIRST SERVE (TL;DR)

CU is led by ninth-year head coach Jesse Mahoney, who has led the Buffs to a 140-123 (.532) record as CU's fifth head volleyball coach. Coach Mahoney has been extended through 2027 and has led the Buffs to three NCAA appearances.
For the first time since the 2010 season, Colorado is playing volleyball in the Big 12 Conference. The Buffs are 151-163 (.481) all-time in Big 12 Conference play.
Jr. DS/L Sarah Morton picked up her sixth match with 20 or more digs against Iowa State with 20 digs. She also had an ace and an assist.
Sr. S Taylor Simpson neared a double-double versus the Cyclones with 41 assists and nine digs. She is currently at 2,951 assists, 49 away from 3,000.
So. OH Ana Burilovic led the offense on the road in Ames with 17 kills. She's averaging 3.51 kps.
So. OH Sydney Jordan was inches away from a double-double against the Cyclones with nine kills and 15 digs. Jordan is averaging 2.51 kps and 2.08 dps.
CU has out-killed the opponent in seven matches, out-dug in six matches, out-aced in 15 matches, out-hit in nine matches and out-blocked in 10 matches. The Buffs have also had eight matches with double-digit team blocks.

WHAT TEAM? WILDCATS!: Colorado will face Arizona for both the second time this season and the 27th time in program history. When the Buffs met the Wildcats in October in Tucson, Ariz., they came away with a scrappy five-set road win (Oct. 16), marking back-to-back road wins after their win at UCF (Oct. 13) and three conference wins in a row with the victory over Texas Tech the previous week (Oct. 5).

THE SUN DEVILS WILL COME OUT TOMORROW: In similar fashion to the Wildcats, the Buffs will go head-to-head with the ninth-ranked Sun Devils for the second time this season and the 27th time ever. Colorado traveled to Tempe, Ariz., in October for a match with ASU, and the Sun Devils came away with the sweep (Oct. 18).

MILESTONE WATCH: Sr. S Taylor Simpson has 2,951 assists, 49 away from 3,000 in her career, and 575 digs, 25 away from 600. So. OPP Lily Dwinell has 90 career digs, 10 away from 100. So. MB Cayla Payne has 189 career blocks, 11 away from 200. So. DS/L Avery Bolles has 85 career aces, 15 away from 100, and 181 career digs, 19 away from 100. Sr. MB Bella Simkus has 87 career kills, 13 away from 100. Jr. DS/L Emilea Stepaniuk has 88 career digs, 12 away from 100. So. OH Sydney Jordan has 285 career kills, 15 away from 300. So. OH Ana Burilovic has 287 career digs, 13 away from 300.

MILESTONE CHECK: Jr. DS/L Sarah Morton reached 300 digs in her time at CU against Iowa State last week (Nov 13) and now sits at 313.

For more information on the Colorado volleyball team, please visit cubuffs.com/vb. Fans of the Buffs can follow @cubuffsvb on Instagram, X, and Facebook.

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Players Mentioned

Avery Bolles

Lily Dwinell

Sydney Jordan

Sarah Morton

Cayla Payne

Bella Simkus

Taylor Simpson

Emilea Stepaniuk