Colorado players listen to the coaches during a timeout in the game against Baylor on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 at the CU Events Center. (Tyler Phillips/CU Independent)
The No. 23 Colorado Buffaloes (22-7, 12-5 Big 12) struggled to generate momentum against the Cincinnati Bearcats (15-11, 7-9 Big 12) and lost in three sets on Nov. 21.
Junior pin attacker Ana Burilović got an early kill to put the Buffs within one, 5-4, but three kills and two blocks powered a 7-0 run for the Bearcats, putting Cincinnati ahead 12-4.
While Colorado showed some signs of life with a 4-1 run, the deficit was too much, as Cincinnati cruised to a 25-15 first-set victory.
Slow starts are common for the Buffs this season, and Colorado came out of the break with renewed energy, starting the second set on a 6-0 run to go up 6-2.
The momentum was quickly extinguished as a 14-4 run powered Cincinnati to a 16-9 lead. Another late 4-1 run for the Buffs cut the Bearcats’ lead to four, as Colorado trailed 19-15, but they weren’t able to hold on. A quick 6-1 run that included three kills, two aces and a block gave Cincinnati another dominant set win, 25-16.
Colorado, now quickly sliding, attempted to get their tires to catch but an early 4-1 run for Cincinnati followed by a 5-1 run pushed the Bearcats’ third-set lead to 10-5.
The Buffs were able to close the gap to 12-9, with a junior Lily Dwinell strike, but the Bearcats soon pulled further ahead, 20-13.
Lily Dwinell spikes the ball during the game against Baylor on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025 at the CU Events Center. (Tyler Phillips/CU Independent)
Sophomore middle blocker Maria Spławska put down a kill as the Buffs tried to pull off a miracle, now down 21-16, but a 4-0 run sealed their fate, 25-16.
As a team, Colorado hit just .105, its second-lowest mark of the season. Despite 41 attack attempts from Burilović, she finished with only six kills, her lowest total this year.
Spławska shone with eight kills and four total blocks, leading the Buffs in both categories.
Along with their offensive woes, the Buffs’ allowed Cincinnati to record a hitting percentage of .409, the highest of any opponent this season.
“Cincinnati did everything right and we couldn’t get going,” head coach Jesse Mahoney said. “We’ve been a really good defensive team this year – we haven’t let anyone hit for those kind of numbers.”
Colorado will honor seniors Sarah Morton and Rian Finley at the CU Events Center for senior day, Saturday, Nov. 29 against the No. 24 BYU Cougars (20-8, 8-8 Big 12). The Buffs beat the at-the-time No. 14 Cougars 3-1 earlier this season. First serve is set for 1 p.m. MT and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jake Chau at jake.chau@colorado.edu
