Colorado Buffaloes junior pin attacker, Ana Burilović, spiking the ball against the University of Utah on Wednesday, Oct. 15th, 2025. (Remi Krupinski/CU Independent)
The No. 24 University of Colorado volleyball team (15-3, 6-1 Big 12) took down the University of Utah Utes (9-8, 1-5 Big 12) 3-1, on Oct. 15. While the Buffs didn’t get the season sweep against the Utes, they persevered through a four-set match after an uncharacteristically slow start. Sophomore middle blocker Maria Splawska put up a career-high six kills and eight digs, while junior pin attacker Lily Dwinell added 12 kills to the Buffs’ victory.
The first set was marked by Colorado errors, as Utah jumped to an early 8-3 lead behind a 4-0 run. Colorado had trouble covering defensively, and the Utes took advantage with well-placed attacks to target the Buffs’ weak spots.
Colorado was able to close the gap a bit, with middle blocker Maria Splawska posting a back-to-back kill and block to get within two points of the Utes. It wasn’t sustained, however, and Utah continued to lead throughout the set.
Colorado’s hitting percentage was in the negatives in the first set at -.062, a far cry from their .259 average on the season. The Buffs called a timeout once down 15-22, but to no avail, and an attack error by Burilović sealed the set for Utah 25-15.
“The first set was one of the worst sets that we played,” said Colorado head coach Jesse Mahoney. “Utah played excellent. We kind of shot ourselves in the foot.”
Colorado got started quicker on the second set, with a kill from junior middle blocker Cayla Payne right out of the gate. Both teams traded points back and forth in a set that featured 12 ties.
Colorado’s defense looked better than in the first set, but still struggled to cover against Utah’s attacks, specifically from Utes outside hitter Kamryn Gibadlo, who had eight kills in the set.
Burilović began to find her groove, and back-to-back kills by her and Payne in the midst of a Utah run helped close the gap to 12-14, but another Utah point sent Colorado into a timeout.
The Buffs came out fired up, with Burilović hitting a kill right away, followed by slams from Payne and Dwinell as Colorado closed in on Utah’s lead. Colorado’s defensive efforts proved crucial, keeping the ball alive after several strong Utah attacks. After Colorado tied it at 21, Utah called a timeout and rallied to gain a 23-21 lead, forcing another Buffs timeout.
Colorado Buffaloes sophomore middle blocker, Maria Spławska, and junior pin attacker, Lily Dwinell, blocking the ball against the University of Utah on Wednesday, Oct. 15th, 2025. (Remi Krupinski/CU Independent)
Utah managed to pull to set point, sitting at 24-22, but two well-placed Colorado kills from Jordan and a big-time block by Splawska and Dwinell brought the Buffs back from the brink and gave them a 25-24 advantage.
Both teams traded the advantage as the set point climbed higher. Dwinell was an important scorer for the Buffs, as she posted two close kills in the final stretch of their eventual 29-27 victory.
The Buffs started to play like their typical selves in the third set, coming out strong. After trading some initial points with the Utes, Colorado went on a 7-1 run to go up 13-7 and force a Utah timeout. Splawska showed her defensive abilities in a particularly long rally, which featured several battles over the net and ended with a strong block by her and Burilović.
Colorado kept slightly ahead for much of the set, but Utah began to come back with a series of kills from Gibadlo to get within one point of the Buffs.
Solid kills by Splawska and Dwinell propelled the Buffs forward, and Jordan hit one down for Colorado to win the set 25-21.
The fourth set was dominated by Colorado from the get-go. A long rally ended with a Dwinell solo block, giving the Buffs a 5-0 lead and firing up the crowd.
The Buffs kept at it, tallying up the kills, and another big block by Splawska and sophomore pin attacker Gwen Schiff put Colorado up 19-12 and sent Utah into their second timeout of the set.
Colorado’s defense continued to be tough for Utah to break through. Both Burilović and setter Rian Finley ended the match with double-doubles, posting 13 and 16 digs, respectively.
Utah attempted a comeback, getting within four points, but it was too little, too late. Burilović hit down a hard kill to get the Buffs to match point, and a Utah error set the score to 25-19.
“I really enjoyed watching our team get after it tonight, from a defensive standpoint, and kind of [get] better as the match went on,” said Mahoney. “Every match in this league is going to be a fight.”
The Buffs hit over .300 in sets two and three, fueled in part by strong offensive performances from Dwinell and Splawska.
“I think we come into every game [ready] to step up,” said Dwinell. “And whenever it happens [you have to] go with it, and you always got to be on.”
Colorado is in its second week of being ranked and looks to be in a strong position headed into the latter part of the season.
“This is what we signed up for, and this is where we want to be,” said Mahoney on the expectations his team is facing. “[This season] says a lot about their mindset and their ability [and] willingness to continue to grow.”
Up next, the Buffs will take on the University of West Virginia Mountaineers (13-5, 1-5 Big 12) at the CU Events Center on Saturday, Oct. 18. First serve is scheduled for 12 p.m. MT and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Lila Nuttle at lila.nuttle@colorado.edu.
