Buffs to Take on No. 23 Utes and Bearcats at Home

BOULDER – The Colorado volleyball team (10-13, 3-8 Big 12) is back in Boulder this week and ready to take on a former Pac-12 foe in 23rd-ranked Utah (17-5, 7-3 Big 12) and Cincinnati (12-9, 3-7 Big 12).

In another two-match week, the Buffs will battle the Utes at CU Events Center on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. MT and will clash with the Bearcats on Nov. 9 at 12 p.m. MT. This is the 33rd meeting all-time between Utah and CU, the second this season. The two teams met on Sept. 29 and Utes came out with the five-set win over the Black and Gold. The Buffs will meet the Bearcats for the second time in program history, the teams' first meeting since 2006 (Sept. 7).

Colorado went back on the road last week for two matches against then-No. 18 TCU and No. 17 Baylor. The Buffs fought hard in both matches but fell short and lost in three sets in each match. CU is now 23-11 all-time against Baylor and 0-1 versus TCU.

THIS WEEK
MATCH #1 • Wednesday, November 6 • 7 p.m. MT
Colorado (10-13, 3-8 Big 12) vs. No. 23 Utah (17-5, 7-3 Big 12)
CU Events Center • Boulder, Colo.
SERIES RECORD: 14-18, Utah Leads
LAST MEETING: L, 2-3 (September 29, 2024 • Salt Lake City, Utah)
STREAK: Lost 2 • LAST 10 MEETINGS: 5-5
TV: ESPN+
OPPONENT WEBSITE: UtahUtes.com

MATCH #2 • Saturday, November 9 • 12 p.m. MT
Colorado (10-13, 3-8 Big 12) vs. Cincinnati (12-9, 3-7 Big 12)
CU Events Center • Boulder, Colo.
SERIES RECORD: 1-0, CU Leads
LAST MEETING: W, 3-0 (September 7, 2006 • Boulder, Colo.)
STREAK: Won 1 • LAST 10 MEETINGS: 1-0
TV: ESPN+
OPPONENT WEBSITE: GoBearcats.com

FIRST SERVE (TL;DR)

CU is led by ninth-year head coach Jesse Mahoney, who has led the Buffs to a 138-122 (.531) 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 149-162 (.482) all-time in Big 12 conference play.
So. OH Ana Burilovic reached 400 kills against TCU last week and now sits at 405 (Oct. 30). She is averaging 3.48 kills per set.
So. MB Cayla Payne hit 300 kills, also against TCU, and now sits at 307 (Oct. 30). She is averaging 2.14 kills per set and 1.05 blocks per set.
Jr. DS/L Sarah Morton leads your Buffs in digs per set with 3.21. She has 14 matches with double-digit digs and five with 20 or more digs.
Sr. MB Bella Simkus saw her 13th match with zero hitting errors at Baylor last week (Nov. 1). She also had her ninth match with a hitting percentage of .500 or higher against the Bears.
CU has out-killed the opponent in six matches, out-dug in five matches, out-aced in 14 matches, out-hit in eight matches and out-blocked in seven matches. The Buffs have also had seven matches with double-digit team blocks.

PAC-12 RE(U)NION: This will be the second meet up with No. 23 Utah and Colorado this season, 33rd all-time. CU traveled to Salt Lake City in September during the Buffs' season opening week (Sept. 29). The Black and Gold took the Utes to five sets, but ultimately fell in the final set. Colorado trails Utah 14-18 in matches all-time.

BEEN A WHILE, BEARCATS: Colorado will face Cincinnati for just the second time in program history. The last time the Buffs met the Bearcats was Sept. 7, 2006, in Boulder, and CU registered a sweep over Cincinnati. CU looks to extend its all-time match streak to two with a win over Cincinnati.

IT'S GIVING ACE: The Buffs have out-killed opponents in six matches this season, all of those falling under the matches the Buffs have won. On the service line, not only has Colorado out-aced the opponent in nine wins, but it has also registered more aces than 14 opponents overall.

EASY DIGS IT: Bolles, Jordan, Burilovic, Morton and Simpson have all recorded multiple matches this season with double-digit digs. Morton leads the herd with 14 double-figure digs matches, followed by Jordan with seven, Bolles with six, Burilovic with five and Simpson with four (all being assists-digs double-doubles).

MILESTONE WATCH: So. DS/L Avery Bolles has 81 career aces, 19 away from 100, and 179 career digs, 21 away from 100. So. OPP Lily Dwinell has 85 career digs, 15 away from 100, and 396 kills, four away from 400. So. MB Cayla Payne has 99.0 blocks on the season, one away from 100.

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

Sarah Morton

Cayla Payne

Bella Simkus