University of Colorado Athletics
Colorado
CSUN
Colorado Opens With Buffs Classic Tournament
August 26, 2026 | Volleyball
BOULDER - No. 23 Colorado volleyball will open its 2026 season by hosting the Buffs Classic at the CU Event Center this weekend. Along with Colorado, Central Arkansas, Denver and CSUN will be competing in the tournament.
MATCH #1 - Friday, Aug. 28 - 6 p.m. MT
Colorado vs. CSUN
SERIES RECORD: 1-0
LAST MEETING: 3-0 win (Sept. 3, 2004 - Eugene, Ore.)
STREAK: Won 1
OPPONENT WEBSITE: https://gomatadors.com/sports/womens-volleyball
MATCH #2 - Saturday, Aug. 29 - 6 p.m. MT
Colorado vs. Central Arkansas
SERIES RECORD: 0-0
LAST MEETING: N/A
STREAK: N/A
OPPONENT WEBSITE: https://ucasports.com/sports/womens-volleyball
MATCH #3 - Sunday, Aug. 30 - 2 p.m. MTColorado vs. Denver
SERIES RECORD: 12-1
LAST MEETING: 3-0 win (Sept. 14, 2025 - Boulder, Colo.)
STREAK: Won 12
OPPONENT WEBSITE: https://denverpioneers.com/sports/womens-volleyball
FIRST SERVE:
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CU is led by 11th-year head coach Jesse Mahoney who has led the Buffs to a 164-135 record and four NCAA Tournament appearances in his first 10 years at Boulder. The 2025 campaign was one of the most successful under Mahoney's leadership with a 23-9 overall record, including a 12-6 mark in Big 12 play. Colorado's 23 wins were its most since 2017 and tied for the third-most wins in program history.
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Colorado was picked to finish fifth in the 2026 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Poll.
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Senior PIN Ana Burilovic was named to the 2026 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team. She started and played in all 32 matches and appeared in all 120 sets in 2025. She took the record for most attacks in a season with 1,424 during the 2025 campaign. Burilovic led Colorado with 565 kills and reached double-digit kills in 27 matches during her junior year. She was ranked first in the Big 12 for both kills per set (4.71) and points per set (5.47).
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Senior MB Cayla Payne was the other Buff to be named to the 2026 Big 12 Volleyball Preseason Team. Payne started and played in 32 matches and appeared in 119 sets in her junior campaign. She recorded 254 kills and 123 blocks last season. Payne reached a career-high five solo blocks at Northern Colorado (Oct. 28) and a season-high 16 kills at UC Irvine (Sept. 6). Payne recorded her 500th career kill against Iowa State (Oct. 25). She was also named MVP of the Buffs Invitational and to the All-Big 12 Second Team.
ROAM WITH THE BUFFS: All Colorado matches, including the neutral-site matches, will be broadcast on ESPN+. Fans also can follow Colorado matches through live stats with links available at cubuffs.com.
MILESTONE WATCH:-
Burilovic is approaching seventh place for most kills in a career at Colorado during the rally score era. She currently boasts 1,061 through her first three seasons; she will need 23 to pass Maya Tabron.
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Burilovic also holds 2,818 career attacks through her first three seasons. If she collects 46 more, she will pass Allie Griffin to take seventh place in all-time career attacks during the rally score era.
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Senior DS/L Avery Bolles is four away from 200 career digs and six away from 100 career aces.
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Senior DS/L Peyton Neal is approaching 1,000 career digs. She is currently at 959.
SENIOR CORE: CU is returning six seniors from its 2025 campaign: Bolles, Burilovic, Neal, Payne and PINS Sydney Jordan and Lily Dwinell.
NEW FACES: Colorado signed six newcomers, including senior setter Jenna Ylivainio, during the offseason. The 6-foot setter from Finland has played club volleyball for Finland and Belgium.
"She brings a level of maturity that comes with competing internationally and playing against high-level competition at a young age. She's a skilled setter with great court awareness, makes good decisions and has the ability to put her teammates in positions to succeed," Mahoney said. "We think her experience and competitive mindset will make an immediate impact on our program, and we're excited to see how she complements our returning group."
CU also signed junior transfer defensive specialist/libero Tinons Munar Galmés from Washington State. The Spain native was a 2025 All-WCC Honorable Mention and played in all 100 matches totaling 332 digs, 100 assists and 35 aces.
"We are thrilled to welcome Tinons to Boulder," Mahoney said. "As a two-year starter in the NCAA and with her extensive experience in the Spanish National Team pipeline, she will impact our program immediately."
In honor of Colorado volleyball's 40th anniversary, the team will commemorate four decades of program excellence with a season-long celebration that recognizes CU's rich volleyball history as well as its exciting present and future.
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.
