Alex Buth in 2008
Alex Buth proved to be a leader on the court in 2007 for the Buffs and will once again be called upon to lead a young team. Buth has been valuable for Colorado’s offense as well as defense. Her athleticism and competiveness will help to bring the team back into NCAA tournament contention.
As a Junior in 2007
Buth was one of two Buffaloes to play in all 109 games and all 28 matches during the 2007 season. She led the Buffs in total kills with 333 and was third in kills per game (3.06). Buth was also second in digs (262) and blocks (70). She hit a career-high .706 against UNC Wilmington in the first match of the CU Invite and went on to be named the MVP of the tournament. The .706 attack percentage ranked eighth in the conference. Buth recorded 13 kills on 17 attacks with one error. In the Big 12 opener at Texas Tech (9/12), Buth recorded career-highs in kills and digs, 21 and 23 respectively, and became the first Buff to record a 20-20 double-double since 2002. She tied her career-high in kills just two matches later again Kansas State (9/22) and hit her conference best attack percentage of .486 with three errors on 37 attacks. In the same match she tallied 24.5 points. 2007 continued to be a career year for Buth as she recorded a career-high eight blocks against Iowa State (10/17). Buth picked up 13 double-doubles for the year; compared to four in 2006. Buth was a two-time CU Athlete of the Week (9/4, 9/18) and was named to the Big 12 Good Works Team for the fall.
As a Sophomore in 2006
Buth moved from a serving specialist as a freshman, to a full-time starter at right side. She recorded 231 kills, 213 digs, 67 blocks and 27 aces on the season and notched four double-doubles. Buth was third on the team in kills, fourth in digs and second in aces. Buth was the only Buff named to the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Classic All-Tournament Team. At the tourney, she recorded her first double-double against Hawai’i (9/2) with 10 kills and 13 digs and recorded 11 kills against Florida (9/3). Buth had a stellar performance at Baylor (10/18) with 14 kills, 11 digs, five blocks, three aces and hit .464. She hammered a career-high 17 kills in a five-game win against Kansas State (11/1). Buth notched eight kills against Central Connecticut State (9/9) on 15 errorless swings to hit .533. She hit in double-figures 11 times as a sophomore. Buth recorded the last point in CU’s first win over a No. 1 opponent (Nebraska, 11/11) in front of a record crowd 4,111 at the Coors Events Center. She played in all but one game and started in every match except one.
As a Freshman in 2005
Buth played in 27 of 28 matches, including 84 games. She led the team in aces with 28. Buth became the first Buff since Monique Gerlach in 2000, to serve five aces in a match against Oklahoma (9/24). She also recorded four against Kansas (11/2), leading CU in aces six times. Buth averaged 0.33 aces per game, which ranked 10th in the league. In conference only matches, she was fifth with 0.35. Buth’s first career start came against top-ranked Nebraska (11/23). In the match, she was CU’s top attacker, hitting at a .545 percentage. She tallied seven kills on 11 attempts with just one error. Buth also started the next match against No. 4 ranked Florida (11/25). Both starts were in place of an injured Allie Griffin. Buth made her collegiate debut against American (8/27). In the match, she recorded a career-high eight kills, 14 attacks and 10.5 points.
As a Redshirt Freshman in 2004
Sat out the 2004 as a redshirt in the Colorado volleyball program. She participated in both fall practice and spring drills.
High School
As a senior in 2004, Alex Buth was one of 12 finalists for Michigan’s Miss Volleyball Award given annually to the state’s top player. She led East Grand Rapids High School to consecutive district titles in 2003 and 2004, advancing to regional finals in both seasons. In her senior year, the Pioneers were ranked as high as third in Class B and finished with a 57-5 record. Buth earned first team all-conference, all-region and all-state honors after the 2002-03 and 2003-04 seasons. She was named first team all-conference and second team all-region as a sophomore. Buth started as a freshman for the Pioneers, gaining honorable mention to the all-conference team. She played club volleyball for Far Out and helped the 18-under Open squad win the 2004 Michigan Junior Volleyball Association state tournament title. She also participated in the Junior Olympics with Far Out in Atlanta in 2003. An accomplished prep tennis player, Buth led East Grand Rapids to four Michigan Division 3 state championships. She won the No. 3 singles state title as a sophomore and the No. 4 singles crown as a freshman. A two-time all-state selection, Buth was the No. 1 singles runner up as a senior and reached the No. 1 singles semi-finals as a junior. She also earned a letter in golf, helping the Pioneers to a fifth place state finish. Buth was named the East Grand Rapids Female Athlete of the Year for 2003-04.
Personal
Born Alexandra Anne Buth on Aug. 22, 1986, in East Grand Rapids. She is the daughter of Dirk and Lisa Buth. Dirk played baseball at Western Michigan. Her older brother, Travis, played football and graduated from Hope College. She also has an older sister, Katie, a graduate of Indiana University. Buth also has a younger sister, Mallory, 19, and twin younger brothers Peter and Joe, who are entering 10th grade. Her hobbies include watching movies and traveling.
Academics
Buth is a business major with an emphasis in marketing at Colorado. She is an eight-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll, compiling a 3.393 overall GPA through four years. Buth has been named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team three times (2005, 06, 07). Buth had a solid 3.736 GPA in high school and was selected from the entire student body to receive the 2004 Detroit Free Press Scholar Athlete Award for East Grand Rapids High School. She is a member of the National Honor Society and was Academic All-State in both volleyball and tennis.
