Colorado made a strong return to the NCAA Tournament stage with a convincing sweep over American University. The Buffaloes displayed dominance in their first-round matchup, securing a 25-16, 25-19, 25-16 victory at Indiana’s Wilkinson Hall. With this win, the fifth-seeded Buffs advance to the second round for the first time since 2017, where they will face the fourth-seeded hosts, the Indiana Hoosiers, on Friday afternoon.
CU’s head coach, Jesse Mahoney, commended his team’s strong start and execution of the game plan. The Buffs established an early lead in each set, showcasing solid serving and offensive efficiency. CU’s performance was highlighted by a .364 hitting percentage in the opening set and a dominant 15-2 run in the second set to take control of the match.
Leading the way for the Buffs was Sydney Jordan, who delivered an outstanding performance with 15 kills, five digs, and three blocks. Middle blockers Maria Splawska and Cayla Payne also made significant contributions, while setter Rian Finley orchestrated the offense with 33 assists. Defensively, senior Sarah Morton shined with 16 digs.
CU’s balanced attack and strong defensive play proved to be the difference, as they finished with a .327 hitting percentage and limited their errors to 11, compared to American’s 20. Mahoney emphasized the importance of multiple players stepping up and contributing to the team’s success.
(5) CU Buffs volleyball 3, (12) American University 0
American 16 19 16
Colorado 25 25 25
LEADERS
Kills — American: Adeele Hollas 10, Dufour 7, Sciborski 7. Colorado: Jordan 15, Burilovic 9, Splawska 8, Dwinell 6, Payne 6.
Assists — American: Dakak 23. Colorado: Finley 33.
Aces — American: Ioannou 1, Sterling 1. Colorado: Burilovic 2, Jordan 2, Losada 2.
Blocks — American: Dakak 3, Sterling 2, Zeck 2. Colorado: Splawska 6, Dwinell 3, Jordan 3, Payne 3.
Digs — American: Marrero 13, Dufour 8. Colorado: Morton 16, Finley 7, Burilovic 5, Jordan 5, Neal 5.
