BOULDER – The Colorado women’s volleyball team defeated Utah in a four set (25-15, 25-19, 28-30, 25-19) match here Thursday night to start out conference play in the win column.
The Buffaloes (9-3, 1-0 Pac-12) cruised by the Utes (5-6, 0-1 Pac-12) in the first two sets, but lost their way a bit in the final two. Despite matching its second most errors in a match this season, Colorado was able to get the job done when it mattered most down the stretch.
Maya Tabron and Lexi Hadrych were the scoring leaders for the Buffs, combining for 24 total kills. Tabron added 19 digs and four blocks as she earned her third double double in the last four matches and her fourth of the season.
Freshman Avery Bolles had a great performance serving tonight, racking up five aces. She was a huge reason why Colorado set a new season-high in service aces with 12. The previous season-high was nine which happened twice this season, once at Wichita State and once at Colorado State.
Skyy Howard led the defensive front with six blocks. She now has 57 blocks on the season which is 20 more than the next most on the team. The Colorado defense was able to force the Utes into committing 33 errors, the most errors made by a CU opponent this season.
The Buffaloes will look to keep its winning streak alive on Sunday as they face a tough test in No.4-ranked Stanford at home.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
SET ONE:
Colorado came ready to play, scoring the first five points and forcing an early Utah timeout. After the break, CU continued to have success as it consistently held a seven-point lead to 14-7. A kill from Hadrych followed by a block by Hadrych put the Buffs up 16-7. Maya Tabron’s back-to-back service aces gave Colorado set point and the set as CU took set one 25-15. The Buffs had four service aces in the set.
SET TWO:
The Buffs found themselves trailing 8-5 early in the set. Four unanswered points from Colorado quickly put the Buffs up 9-8. As a result, the Utes called their first timeout. Following the break, Utah was able to tie things up at 10 all. Two four-point scoring runs by the CU translated into a 19-12 lead and another Utah timeout. The Utes threatened a comeback but the Buffs held them off and reached set point on a kill by Tabron. Colorado won the set 25-19 following another kill by Tabron.
SET THREE:
CU dominated…
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