Buffs Fall In Four to The Cougars

PULLMAN, Wash. — The University of Colorado women’s volleyball fell in four sets (20-25, 25-21,19-25, 11-25) Sunday afternoon to No. 25 Washington State.
 
The Buffs (18-10, 10-8 Pac-12) achieved a .197 attack percentage, below their .249 season average. Middle blocker Meegan Hart led the team in attack percentage, hitting .450 with 11 kills from 26 attempts. The Cougars’ blocking contributed to Colorado’s offensive troubles as WSU earned 13 total blocks.
 
The Cougars’ (21-8, 13-6 Pac-12) offense was firing on all cylinders throughout the match. WSU finished with a .373 attack percentage and three players achieved double-digit kills. Magda Jehlarova led the team with 16, Pia Timmer earned 15, and Laura Jansen notched 12.
 
Colorado’s final regular season road game will take place at Arizona on Wednesday before the Buffs head home to host Utah on Friday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
SET ONE 
 
The Buffs and the Cougars fought a tight battle early in the set, and Lexi Hadrych gave the Buffs their first lead of the game with her third kill at 13-12. Colorado expanded their lead to 15-13 as Washington State had a service error.  The Cougars evened the score 15-15 before a kill by Katy Ryan retook the WSU lead 16-15. A block by Ryan and Weronika Wojdyla gave the Cougars even more wiggle room and forced CU to utilize their first timeout at 19-16. A pair of WSU hitting errors put the Buffs back within one.
 
However, CU couldn’t overtake WSU as a pair of blocks put the Cougars up 22-18 and the Buffs called their second timeout. The pause wasn’t enough for CU to regain their momentum as Jehlarova got her team’s third consecutive solo block. A back-row attack from Laura Jansen put WSU at set point, but Hadrych held off the WSU offense for one point. A Buff net violation gave WSU the set at 25-20.
 
SET TWO
 
The two teams were tied 3-3 when the Buffs challenged a “touch” call off of Hadrych, but the original call was held to give the Cougars the lead 4-3. The Buffs took their first lead of the set off a Maya Tabron kill at 7-6.
 
The Buffs used their second challenge of the set on a Hart kill that was originally called out of bounds, but, after review, the point went to CU, putting Colorado up 11-8. Brynna DeLuzio extended the CU lead to four off an ace that dribbled off the tape of the net…