University of Colorado Athletics
Colorado
1-0,0-0Big 12
CSUN
0-1,0-0Big West
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CSUN | 19 | 18 | 21 | 0 |
| Colorado | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Buffs Sweep CSUN In Home Opener
August 28, 2026 | Volleyball
BOULDER — No. 23 Colorado volleyball (1-0, 0-0 Big 12) defeated CSUN (0-1, 0-0 Big West) on Friday night at the CU Events Center. This contest marks the first meeting between the opponents since 2004.
"Ultimately, I was really happy to get a win in the first match of the season," Mahoney said. "Really nice crowd, really good energy in the event center. I think our players came out really excited to get on the floor again. You can see a little bit more of a bounce in their step tonight, which was a lot of fun."
KEY PLAYERS:
- Sr. DS/L Avery Bolles: She sees action on the court for the first time in 11 months after dealing with multiple injuries. Bolles reached 200 career digs on the 18th point of the third set.
- Sr. PIN Ana Burilovic led the way with the most kills for CU with 14, along with three aces and 1.5 blocks.
- Sr. MB Cayla Payne had seven kills and five block assists.
- Sr. S Jenna Ylivainio provided CU with 27 assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
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Colorado opened with a kill from Burilovic, which ignited a 4-0 run, including an ace from Sr. PIN Jordan Sydney and a kill from Sr. PIN Lily Dwinell. Burilovic then completed another kill to extend the lead for the Buffs (8-3 CU). CSUN called their first timeout of the set after a 13-6 Buff lead. Upon returning from the timeout, freshman Barbora Rakauskaite recorded her first collegiate kill (16-9 CU). Forcing two errors, the Buffs scored three in a row, making CSUN call another timeout (19-12 CU). A kill from Payne extended the Buff lead (21-13 CU). A second kill from Rakauskaite assisted by Ylivainio led Colorado to take the first set 25-19.
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Burilolvic opened up the scoring in set two with a kill as the Buffs jumped out to a quick 4-2 lead. The teams exchanged points until Ylivainio set up Dwinell for a kill to give the Buffs a 10-7 lead. A kill from Bolles is seen after a CSUN timeout (13-8 CU). So. PIN Ines Losada heated up in the second set as she guided the Buffs on a 4-0 run with two block assists, forcing a CSUN timeout (19-13 CU). CSUN rallied late in the set, but it was Ylivainio who set up Payne for the kill to win the Buffs the second set 25-18.
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CU kept the intensity in the third with an immediate block assist from Rakauskaite and Dwinell (1-0 CU). Back-to-back aces from Burilolvic sent CSUN to a timeout (8-6 CU). On the 18th point of the third set, Bolles reached a milestone, achieving 200 career digs. The Buffs continued to dominate, scoring seven of the next 11, as Rakauskaite and Dwinell both got block assists, extending Colorado's lead into the technical timeout (CU 15-10). CSUN scored five of six, cutting the deficit to three at 20-17. Burlovic was set up with a strong kill, leading the Buffs into match point. It was then Dwinell who brought it home for Colorado, giving them the third set 25-21.
PAYNE ON BOLLES' RETURN TO THE COURT: "[It is] the best thing to see her back out there. She worked so hard to get back, and she had a pretty crappy run of things. Injury after injury that were not really working in her favor, but she stayed strong throughout all of it. She just kept fighting. It's so good to see her back out there, and, honestly, she doesn't even look like she missed a day."
UP NEXT: The Buffs return for day two of the Classic to face Central Arkansas at 6 p.m. MT at the CU Events Center. The contest will be streamed on ESPN+, and fans can follow along via live stats links on CUBuffs.com.
MATCH NOTES:
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This match moves Colorado to 2-0 all-time against CSUN
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Bolles reached 200 career digs
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CU had more kills (37-32), assists (33-28) and blocks (11.0-7.0) than its opponent
