Colorado Volleyball Continues Road Competition in Anteater Classic

BOULDER – The Colorado volleyball team (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) goes back on the road this weekend to take on Fresno State (2-1, 0-0 Mountain West), UPenn (0-0, 0-0 Ivy League) and UC Irvine (2-1, 0-0 Big West) in the Anteater Classic. All three Buff matches are hosted by UC Irvine at Bren Events Center in Irvine, Calif., from Sept. 4-6.

The Buffs' match against UC Irvine on Sept. 6 will be streamed on ESPN+, and first serve is set for 6 p.m. MT. While the other two matches will not be broadcast or live-streamed, live stats will be available online under the Volleyball Buffs' schedule page.

Last weekend, Colorado swept all three teams in the Rumble in the Rockies, going undefeated in both matches and sets for the first time since 2008. The Buffs had a higher hitting percentage, more kills, more aces and more blocks than all three opponents. So. MB Maria Splawska reached a career-high and led the match against Wyoming in blocks with nine (two solo) (Aug. 31). Sr. DS/L Sarah Morton led all three matches in digs, and Jr. PIN Ana Burilovic led in kills for all competitions.

THIS WEEK
MATCH #4 • Thursday, September 4 • 4:30 p.m. MT
Colorado (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) vs. Fresno St. (2-1, 0-0 Mountain West)
SERIES RECORD: TIED, 1-1 (.500)
LAST MEETING: W 3-0 (September 7, 2024 • Boulder, Colo.)
STREAK: Won 1 • LAST 10 MEETINGS: 1-1
OPPONENT WEBSITE: GoBulldogs.com

MATCH #5 • Friday, September 5 • 5 p.m. MT
Colorado (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) vs. UPenn (0-0, 0-0 Ivy League)
SERIES RECORD: First Meeting
OPPONENT WEBSITE: PennAthletics.com

MATCH #6 • Saturday, September 6 • 6 p.m. MT
Colorado (3-0, 0-0 Big 12) at UC Irvine (2-1, 0-0 Big West)
SERIES RECORD: CU Leads, 2-1 (.667)
LAST MEETING: W 3-2 (September 13, 2024 • Boulder, Colo.)
STREAK: Won 2 • LAST 10 MEETINGS: 2-1
OPPONENT WEBSITE: UCIrvineSports.com

FIRST SERVE (TL;DR)

CU is led by 10th-year head coach Jesse Mahoney, who has led the Buffs to a 141-126 (.528) record as CU's fifth head volleyball coach. Coach Mahoney has been extended through 2027 and has led the Buffs to three NCAA appearances.
In its second year back in the Big 12, Colorado was picked to finish 10th in the Big 12 Preseason Poll.
Jr. PIN Ana Burilovic totaled 45 kills and averaged 5.00 kills per set and 5.94 points per set. This brings her to sixth and third in the Big 12 for each stat, respectively. She had double-digit kills in all three matches and led all Buff matches in kills. Burilovic is also sixth in the Conference for aces per set, with six on the weekend (0.67).
Sr. DS/L Sarah Morton leads the Big 12 in digs per set after the first weekend of competition with 5.67 (51 digs in nine sets). Morton recorded 20 digs in the Buffs' first outing against Cleveland State (Aug. 29).
Sr. S Rian Finley is currently second in the Big 12 for assists per set with 11.78 (106 assists, nine sets). Finley reached career-highs in assists twice, with the most recent being against Tulsa where she finished with 38 (Aug. 30).
So. MB Maria Splawska leads the Big 12 in blocks per set with 2.14 (15 blocks, three solo, seven sets). This includes a career-high nine blocks (two solo) earned against Wyoming (Aug. 31).
As a team, the Buffs are fourth in the Big 12 for points per set with 19.11 and managed to hold their opponents to .114 hitting -- good for fifth in the Conference. CU is first in the conference for digs per set (15.78), second for blocks per set (3.22), fourth for assists per set (13.33) and sixth for kills per set (14.44).

BEAT THE BULLDOGS: Colorado will face the Fresno State Bulldogs for just the third time in program history. CU met with Fresno State last season in the Buffs Classic in Boulder, where the Buffs managed a sweep to even the all-time record to 1-1.

WHAT'S FOR BREAKFAST?: In the second match of the Anteater Classic, the Buffs will go head-to-head with the Pennsylvania (UPenn) Quakers. This will be the opening matchup in Buffs-Quakers program history, and this is the second of three times this season Colorado will meet an opponent for the first time.

ARE EUCHIDDING ME?: The Buffs will face the UC Irvine Anteaters in the final match of the tournament, and for the fourth time in program history. Last season, UCI came to Boulder for a five-set thriller in Buffs Invitational, where CU came out on top. The Buffs also played the Anteaters in 2016 (W, 3-0) and 1987 (L, 3-0).

MILESTONE WATCH: Sr. DS/L Sarah Morton has 288 assists, 12 away from 300. Jr. PIN Lily Dwinell has 478 kills, 22 away from 500, and 98 digs, two away from 100. Jr. DS/L Avery Bolles has 89 aces, 11 away from 100, and 193 digs, seven away from 200.

MILESTONE CHECK: Jr. PIN Ana Burilovic reached 500 kills against Cleveland State (8/29), and Jr. MB Cayla Payne reached 200 kills versus the Vikings.

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.

Colorado Volleyball Continues Road Competition in Anteater Classic

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Avery Bolles

Lily Dwinell

Rian Finley

Sarah Morton

Cayla Payne

Colorado Volleyball Continues Road Competition in Anteater Classic

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Avery Bolles

Lily Dwinell

Rian Finley

Sarah Morton

Cayla Payne

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