The University of Colorado Boulder’s women’s volleyball team celebrates during the game against Denver University at the CU Events Center on Sunday Sep. 14, 2025. (Peter FitzGerald/CU Independent)
The University of Colorado volleyball team (9-0) swept the University of Denver (5-3) on Sunday, Sept. 14, to finish off their annual Buffs Invitational. Colorado ultimately won through a balanced attack, with eight players recording kills. Specifically, junior middle blocker Cayla Payne dominated at the net, recording eight blocks and 10 kills.
Denver took an early lead in the first set as Colorado struggled to cover defensively. Early kills from junior pin attacker Lily Dwinell got the Buffs back on track, as they battled back-and-forth with the Pioneers.
Colorado showcased their depth as three kills by three different players kicked off a 5-0 run and grew the lead to 15-11 heading into the first media timeout. Another pair of back-to-back kills by Payne and freshman middle blocker Olivia Grenadier put Colorado in the lead 20-13.
Although Denver attempted to stage a comeback, getting within four points, the Buffs stayed steady and, with a final kill from Payne, won the set 25-20.
The second set proved to be much closer. Colorado issued a challenge early on, getting a call overturned, but the Pioneers were unfazed. While Denver initially looked disjointed on offense, committing several attack errors, the Buffs were unable to pull away. Denver middle hitter Elise Hart recorded four kills to keep the score close throughout the set.
Both sides exchanged hard hits and battled it out above the net. However, Colorado shined defensively, with Payne getting five of her eight blocks in the second set, and the Buffs had 18 digs as a team.
“I think blocking is such a big momentum grab, and I think that it’s just so exciting when you get a big block,” Payne said on her blocking performance. “[It] fills the rest of the team, because we all trust each other.”
The set was a close battle, with set point played three times before outside hitter Ana Burilović hammered her seventh kill to put the Buffs at 25.
“I think we just know that we’re gonna be okay,” junior outside hitter Sydney Jordan said on how the team battles through close sets. “There’s no frantic energy on the court. I think that we’re super mature right now in how we’re handling things.”
The third set saw Colorado cruise to the finish. Fueled by more blocks and kills from Payne and Burilović, Colorado went on a 7-0 run late in the set to lead by 13. Denver was unable to answer and a strong kill by Jordan won the match for the Buffs. Colorado closed out the third set 25-15 to secure the sweep.
“We’ve had our share of sweeps this year, and that’s really exciting. It just means we’re playing consistent volleyball,” head coach Jesse Mahoney said. “We really got to [Denver] and then put it away in that third set.”
This win puts Colorado at 9-0 for the season and marks Mahoney’s 150th win in Boulder.
“This has been such a fantastic time of my life to be here at my alma mater and coaching these young women,” Mahoney said. “And wins are fantastic, losses happen, but being a part of this program for as long as I have is really special.”
The Buffs will look to carry their momentum into this week as they prepare for the Battle of the Golden Spike series against in-state rival Colorado State University.
“It’s really exciting that we’re going into playing Colorado State next week 9-0,” Jordan said. “I know that it’s going to be an amazing game, and that all it can do is build our confidence for [the] Big 12.”
Colorado will play Colorado State in Fort Collins on Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. MDT before returning to CU Events Center on Sept. 19. Thursday’s game will be streamed on the Mountain West Network.
Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Lila Nuttle at lila.nuttle@colorado.edu
