Colorado women’s volleyball team celebrates after a point against Arkansas on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025 at the CU Events Center. (Jake Chau/CU Independent)
Fresh off a top-15 win over the No. 14 BYU Cougars, the Colorado Buffaloes (11-2, 2-0 Big 12) women’s volleyball team took down another top-25 opponent, the No. 23 Utah Utes (8-5, 0-2 Big 12), in a three set sweep on Sept. 27.
Utah got out to an early 7-2 lead in the first set, but junior pin attacker Ana Burilović went on a three point serving run to bring the score back to 7-6.
Junior Sydney Jordan was critical in the later stages of the first set as well, providing a strong kill to give the Buffs their first lead of the first set, 14-13, in the midst of a five point run.
CU was able to take that lead and capitalize on multiple Ute errors late in the first set, to take the set 25-18.
The second set began with the Buffs and Utes entangled in a back-and-forth match, with nine ties by the time the scoreboard read 9-9. Burilović again shone, putting down two strong kills for Colorado to lead 12-9.
Utah was able to close the gap, putting them in striking distance at 18-17. Burilović then put up a solo block and a kill in back-to-back plays to put the Buffs up 20-17.
Utah junior Kamryn Gibadlo put down an ace and a kill in the subsequent five point Ute run, putting Utah up 22-20 and setting up a dramatic finish for the second set.
A timely service ace from Burilović tied the score at 22 before a Utah kill and a Colorado attack error put Utah ahead 24-22, just one point from evening the match at one set apiece.
A timeout from Colorado head coach Jesse Mahoney helped the Buffs regroup and go on a four point run, taking the second set 26-24.
In the third set, Colorado found their groove, with two early kills from junior Cayla Payne and a creative dump from setter Rian Finley.
Payne remained on point, slamming down her third kill of the set to put CU up 15-12, then her fourth stopping a four point Utah rally and tying the score 16-16.
Each team went on their own respective three point runs, tying the third set 20-20.
Junior Lily Dwinell got a strong set off a free ball, pushing it through the Utah block for her fifth kill of the match.
Burilović took it the rest of the way, putting down three kills in the Buffs’ final four points, helping them take the third set 25-22.
Colorado improves to 11-2 on the season and is undefeated in Big 12 play with two ranked wins.
“Utah is a very good team,” Mahoney said. “This is a hard place to play, hard place to win and a really hard place to sweep.
Colorado will host the University of Central Florida Knights at the CU Events Center next Thursday, Oct. 2. The game will start at 7 p.m. MT and will be live streamed on ESPN+.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jake Chau at jake.chau@colorado.edu.
