Colorado Takes Down Colorado State In Four

Thursday, September 17

7:00 PM

Colorado

9-0,0-0Big 12

Colorado State

6-3,0-0Pac-12

Team	1	2	3	4	Final F
Colorado St.	23	25	25	21	1
Colorado	25	27	22	25	3

September 17, 2026 | Volleyball

Box Score Donate To Volleyball Post-Match Press Conference Highlights

Buffs set new attendance record since re-joining Big 12

By: Anna Duffy, Athletic Communications Associate

BOULDER — No. 17 Colorado Buffaloes volleyball toppled Colorado State in four sets on Thursday night at the CU Events Center.

With the win, the Buffs' 9-0 start tied their best start in Colorado volleyball history, a feat only reached twice before in 2021 and 2025.

The Buffs took the first, second, and fourth sets, while dropping the third (25-23, 27-25, 22-25, 25-21).

The in-state rivalry is alive and Buff fans are tuned in. Tonight's attendance of 3,494 fans, including 1,279 students, was the highest attendance at a CU volleyball match since re-entering the Big 12. It was the sixth-highest attendance of all time.

"It's a testament to our players," Head Coach Jessie Mahoney said. "Being a ranked, undefeated team has helped get the word out around campus and really energize the student body."

After a closely-contested first three sets, Colorado ultimately secured its first win against Colorado State in two years in a narrow fourth set. Pin attacker Lily Dwinell had her fingerprints all over the set, halting a 4-0 CSU run and securing the match point.

The Buffs were led by pin attacker Ana Burilovic, who led the match in attacks (51), kills (22) and points (24). Dwinell recorded a season-high 37 attacks.

"I'm just ready to go," Dwinell said. "I didn't have my best year last year. So, just trying to turn that around and be there for my team and be someone that they can use at all times during the game."

Colorado volleyball celebrated its 40th anniversary today with seat covers in the stands honoring past players.

"There is a lot of history here, and a lot of amazing coaches and players that have come through here," Mahoney said. "It's our 40th year, we're having a big alumni event, everyone is coming back, and I think they're going to be excited to see the legacy that they have left."

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Set One: An initial two-point deficit was broken by back-to-back kills from Burilovic, giving CU its first point of the match. Three Colorado State attack errors and an ace from Bolles gave the Buffaloes a 7-3 lead. The Rams crept back, as an ensuing 3-0 run tied the score at nine. The contest remained tight before a kill from Burilovic capped a 3-0 run, putting the Buffs up 16-13. After block assists by middle blocker Maria Splawska and setter Jenna Ylivainio, defensive specialist Katie Salonga powered Colorado forward 20-17 with an ace. Sophomore pin attacker Ines Losada collected a kill and ace to give Colorado the first set, 25-23. The Buffs had to compete for each point in the set, as the score tied on 11 occasions.

Set Two: After CU fell into an early two-point deficit, kills from Losada and middle blocker Cayla Payne evened the score at five. An ace from Ylivainio gave the Buffaloes a slight 10-7 lead. Colorado drove a 15-13 edge on the Rams with additional kills from Losada and Payne. Late in the set, three Burilovic kills kept the Buffs one point ahead of Colorado State, 21-20. Payne and Ylivainio followed up with a combined block, followed by a service error from the Rams that pushed the Buffs into the lead, 23-21. The set reached extra points before a kill from Dwinell, followed by a Losada solo block, allowed the Buffs to take the thrilling second set, 27-25.

Set Three: Colorado jumped out to an early 4-2 lead with block assists from Dwinell and Payne. Fueled by kills from Losada and Burilovic and block assists by Losada and Splawska, the Buffaloes forged ahead, 11-6. At 10-12, a Dwinell kill snapped CSU's 4-0 run. CU recovered from the deficit and tied the set at 18 with kills from Burilovic and Ylivainio. Dwinell and Splawska's block assists snapped a 5-0 Colorado State run, cutting the Rams lead to 24-20, but Colorado ultimately dropped the set, 25-22.

Set Four: The Buffaloes etched an early 4-3 lead with kills from Ylivainio and Payne. CSU responded with a 4-0 run of its own, but a Dwinell kill halted the Rams' momentum, cutting the Colorado State lead to 10-8. Colorado surged ahead 11-10 on a 3-0 run, capped off by a Burilovic kill. Two additional Burilovic kills and a solo block pushed the Buffaloes ahead 15-12. Colorado State closed the gap, but a Losada kill kept the Buffaloes ahead 21-20. With the final kill of the game, Dwinell secured the set at 25-21, and the Buffs held onto their undefeated record.

"It feels amazing to have all these people here supporting us. Having a loud crowd is amazing, and playing a good team and winning is even better," Losada said.

KEY PLAYERS:

Losada: Notched a season-high seven digs, along with double-digit points (13) for the second time this season.
Burilovic: After 51 attacks tonight, she entered the top 10 in career attacks for Colorado volleyball with 3,161. She recorded 22 kills, her seventh time reaching double-digit kills this season, 10 digs and 24 points. Her 10 digs marked a season-high and she racked up 20+ points for the third time this season.
Dwinell: Tallied a season-high 37 attacks and four digs. Notched double-digit points for the fifth time this season (13) and double-digit kills for the third time this season (12).

MATCH NOTES:

For the first time since 2022, the Buffs secured a home win against CSU and broke a three-match losing streak. CU's last victory against the Rams was in 2024 in Fort Collins.
Since the Golden Spike era started in 2019, Colorado leads the series 4-3.
The match was tied 34 times across all four sets.
Ylivanio has reached over 20 assists in every contest this season. She tallied 50 tonight. She also reached double-digit digs for the second time this season (13).
Libero Tinons Munar Galmes reached double-digit digs for the fourth time this season with 17 tonight.
Five Buffs recorded an ace: Losada, Ylivainio, Bolles, Salonga, Munar Galmes.

UP NEXT: The Buffs travel to Fort Collins for the second match in the Battle for the Golden Spike to take on Colorado State at 6 p.m. at Moby Arena. The contest will be streamed on Pac-12 YouTube. Fans can follow along via live stats links on CUBuffs.com.