The Colorado volleyball team sits during a timeout while playing against CSU on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025 at the CU Events Center. (Tyler Phillips/CU Independent)
The No. 24 University of Colorado Buffaloes volleyball team (14-3, 5-1 Big 12) received their first conference loss from the No. 8 Arizona State University Sun Devils (14-2, 5-0 Big 12) on Oct. 10, losing 3-1.
The Buffs were able to avoid the sweep in Tempe but were down two sets to none.
The first set went back and forth, with ASU holding onto a comfortable three-point lead for the majority of the set, before another 4-0 run put them up 17-11.
Junior pin attacker Ana Burilović struggled to get into a rhythm early, committing two attack errors in a Sun Devils 4-0 run early in the first set.
Burilović and junior Sydney Jordan bookended a 4-1 Buffs run as they attempted to crawl back, now down 22-19.
The Sun Devils put down a kill and capitalized on two more CU errors to take the first set 25-20.
Early in the second set, two kills from junior Lily Dwinell paired with three kills from three different players put Colorado within one point, 7-6. Another Burilović kill combined with a Maria Spławska and Dwinell combo-block put the Buffs up 9-8. ASU responded with a 12-4 run to take back control, 20-13.
Jordan had a kill and a block in an attempt to stop the momentum, but four service errors counted for ASU’s last five points, costing the Buffs the set, 25-18.
The third set had back-and-forth action with the two teams tying four times when the score read 7-7.
Burilović helped start a 5-1 run for the Buffs, going ahead 12-8.
More timely Burilović kills helped meet the Sun Devils’ attacks as they struggled to close the gap in a meaningful way.
Back-to-back kills from Cayla Payne put the Buffs up 20-16 and put them in control of the third set. Two more Burilović kills were met with another Dwinell slam to take the third set and avoid the sweep, 25-20.
ASU came out hot in the fourth set, going up 15-8 with another 4-0 run.
The Buffs couldn’t stop the momentum as they found themselves down 19-11 before freshman Inés Losada put down an ace on a 4-0 run, bringing the score back within four, 19-15.
Colorado turned on the gas with momentum and went on a 7-0 run, taking the lead late, 22-20, thanks to three consecutive blocks.
ASU responded with a kill and an ace in a 4-0 run of their own, bringing the score back in their favor, 24-22.
Burilović and Payne combined on a block to keep the game alive at 24-23, but ASU slammed down a kill, taking the fourth set 25-23.
While Burilović’s 19 kills marked her eighth consecutive game with double-digit kills, Colorado, currently averaging a .260 kill percentage this season, struggled to hit against ASU, posting a .194 game hitting percentage in this match.
Losada put down a game and career-high with three aces, but 13 team serving errors is the most in a game since the Buffs’ four set win over BYU.
“Our team really fought in that match, especially being behind after the first two sets,” head coach Jesse Mahoney said. “We responded well in the third, and had a chance to get the fourth and make it a five-setter.”
Colorado will play the University of Utah Utes (9-7, 1-4 Big 12) at the CU Events Center on Wednesday, Oct. 15. Colorado swept the then No. 23 Utes in their last matchup on Sept. 27. First serve is set for 7 p.m. MT and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jake Chau at jake.chau@colorado.edu
