Ana Burilović preps to spike the ball during Colorado’s win over Arkansas on Friday, Sept. 12. (Jake Chau/CU Independent)
The University of Colorado women’s volleyball team hosted the University of Arkansas Razorbacks to open at the Buffs Invitational Friday night.
The first game at the CU Events Center this year, the Buffs opened up in a tight first-set battle. Teams were tied 12 times with five lead changes. Junior Sydney Jordan kill was able to put the Buffs up 13-11 in the first set before five straight attacking errors and an ace gave the Razorbacks a 16-13 lead.
The Buffs were able to respond with a 4-0 run of their own to bring the score back in their favor at 17-16.
Junior Ana Burilović put down two kills in the run.
A 3-1 run late in the set for Arkansas eventually helped them take the first set 25-22.
The Buffs came out with fire in the second set. Burilović put down three kills while Sydney Jordan recorded two aces out of the gate putting the Buffs up 8-3.
Two consecutive Razorback points were quickly extinguished as junior Cayla Payne slammed three kills on a 5-0 Buffs run.
With over 1,000 attendees, the CU Events Center crowd rose to their feet for set point. Two Razorback points were followed by an attack error giving the Buffs their first home set win of the season in dominant fashion, 25-16.
Payne and Burilović combined for seven kills and came together for two blocks in the second set.
The third set seemed to be much more like the first with both teams going back and forth. The Buffs and Razorbacks were tied six times by the time the score reached 7-7.
The turning point came on a Lily Dwinell kill, who earlier in the match got her 500th career kill. From there, the Buffs saw six kills from four different players and two aces from Burilović, putting the Buffs up 19-10 on a 13-3 run.
Jordan ended the set scoring three consecutive points one on a kill and back-to-back aces, helping the Buffs take a 25-15 third set win.
Burilović stood out to start the fourth set, putting down three kills on a 7-3 opener.
The midway points were more dramatic as both teams went on two 4-0 runs to keep the score close.
After an Arkansas block error put the Buffs up 19-17, the Razorbacks were still in it, trying to claw back and force a fifth set.
A strong service from Burilović saw Arkansas put an attack through a rising Payne and freshman Rian Finely before being deflected into the court-side seating. Jordan was able to track it down into the seats, keeping it alive in an impressive feat, and finding her teammate Sarah Morton.
Morton’s forearm pass got over the net as the Arkansas and Colorado were locked in a rally before Jordan, who saved the point, found open space for her 14th kill of the evening, stomping out any Razorback momentum.
But it was Burilović, who started the scoring for the Buffs, to be the one to end it, matching her season and career-high 20 kills.
“I try to see if there’s a gap in a block,” Burilović said. “If I don’t see anyone on the court that ball is definitely going down.”
Colorado was able to record seven total blocks as a team with Payne contributing on five of them. In the post-game conference, Jordan sung her praises.
“I think Cayla always gets after it, and I think we could have probably used her more in that game,” Jordan said. “I thought our middles were some unsung heroes. We kinda figured out one of our blocking schemes, blocking their outsides halfway through the game.”
As a team, making the adjustment in their serving approach helped them dominate the second and third sets.
“[Arkansas] played a more ball control 5-1 lineup which I think was smart of them,” head coach Jesse Mahoney said after the game. “After set one, we gave them the numbers and I think they made a concerted effort to put a little more pace on the ball.”
This match marks back-to-back games with five aces for Jordan, and adjustment she’s been working on.
“I’ve been working on serving a lot in practice,” Jordan said. “I’m really trying some new things and trying to hit it at a higher contact point.”
Colorado went on to beat the University of Toledo Rockets and the University of Denver pioneers as a part of the Buffs Invitational. Colorado remains undefeated with nine consecutive wins this season.
Thursday, Sept. 18, the Buffs will take on the Colorado State Rams at 6:00 p.m. at the CU Events Center.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jake Chau at jake.chau@colorado.edu
