Buffaloes Host Bay Schools – University of Colorado Athletics

BOULDER — The University of Colorado women’s volleyball team returns home to host No.8-ranked Stanford Friday at 7 p.m. and Cal Sunday at 12 p.m.
 
The Buffaloes (11-3, 3-1 Pac-12) are in a tie for second in the Pac-12 and have one of the largest tests coming into town Friday for the first top-10 matchup since 2020 in Boulder.
 
Colorado is third in the NCAA at three blocks per set, coming off of the team’s second 20 block performance of the season. Middles Alexia Kuehl and Meegan Hart are the force up front with Kuehl 15^th in the NCAA at 1.44 blocks per set and Hart at 1.24 blocks per set. Hart is also second in the NCAA in hitting percentage at .464.
 
The Buffs are led on the offensive end by Maya Tabron and Lexi Hadrych, both of which are averaging more than three kills per set. Tabron has a team-best 166 kills and is hitting .235. Setter Taylor Simpson leads the offense that has three hitters with 140 kills or more, and Simpson also leads the team with a dozen aces.
 
Katie Lougeay leads the backrow with 3.42 digs per set, while CU has five Buffs with 20 or more blocks led by Kuehl with 68.
 
Friday’s match against Stanford will be a mental health awareness match for the Buffaloes, while Sunday against Cal will be the CU Pride match.
 
STANFORD
The Cardinal (8-4, 3-1 Pac-12) faced a bunch of ranked opponents in the non-conference season, defeating No.13 Florida in five sets, No.3 Minnesota in four sets and No.2 Nebraska in four sets, all on the road. The team fell to No.1 Texas in three sets, No.20 Penn State in five and No.3 Louisville in four, two of which were at home. The Cardinal also suffered a sweep in Eugene to No.21 Oregon but responded with a home four-set win against No.17 Washington.
 
Stanford is hitting .253 this season while holding opponents to .199 behind 2.8 blocks per set. They are averaging two more kills per set than their opponents and an ace more. Kendall Kipp is averaging more than four kills per set hitting .271 from the outside along with 24 service aces this season. McKenna Vicini and Sami Francis both have more than 50 blocks this season up front.
 
CAL
The Golden Bears (7-7, 0-4 Pac-12) do not have a power-five win this season and are on a four-match losing streak. Cal lost in five at Oregon State but was swept by Stanford, Washington State and Washington all at…