Junior outside hitter Maya Tabron waits for CSU’s volleyball team to serve the ball during the game at the CU Events Center on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. (Io Hartman/CU Independent)
The University of Colorado Boulder volleyball team has played against in-state foes Colorado State University since 1987. The matchup typically brings high-intensity competition and historic rivalries and this year’s matchup was no different.
On Sept. 19 and 20, the Buffs played rivals Colorado State University. The Buffs had an electric win in their first game before falling short on Friday to the CSU Rams.
In preparation for the matchup and CU Boulder’s entrance into the Big 12, the Buffs have played strong out-of-conference teams such as the University of Washington and the University of California- Irvine.
Coming off of these games and last weekend’s Buff Classics tournament with a 2-1 record, CU Boulder entered the games against the Rams on a high note, bringing a level of confidence the audience could feel.
“We’re going to win 3 sets and that’s what matters,” said Jesse Mahoney, the Buffs head coach.
Mahoney’s positive outlook on Friday set the stage for team resiliency, despite their Friday loss.
During the away game on Thursday, the Buffaloes started off strong winning set 1 25-23. Continuing this trend, their sets continued to stay close, only falling short in the second set 20-25.
On Friday, much like Thursday’s match, the game was tied until the third set. In that set, the Rams won 27-25 and took the 2-1 lead overall.
Last year, the Buffs faced a 5-set loss against the CSU Rams. This year the Rams continued to strengthen their team with returning players.
“I thought (Colorado State) played really well tonight,” Mahoney said. “They certainly passed better than they did (Thursday) night… that was really the big difference.”
These were the final non-conference games for the Buffs. On Sept. 26, they appeared in their first Big-12 game in Provo, Utah against Brigham Young University.
Teams in the Big 12 conference have been having non-conference games such as the University of Arizona having an 11–0 ranking in the current bracket. Historically, University of Colorado volleyball has excelled in the PAC 12.
Though the second matchup with the Rams may not have been all the Buffs hoped for, the games leading up to it have opened the door to what the season could look like for CU Boulder.
Despite being a young team, the Buffs have continued to perform better than expected against high-contender opponents. The game against Colorado State, a team with all 5th-year athletes, showed perseverance and an optimistic energy for the remainder of the season.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Lauren Heidt at lauren.heidt@colorado.edu.
