The No. 25 Colorado Buffaloes volleyball team defeated Utah in four sets during a competitive match at the Jon M. Huntsman Center on Sunday afternoon. Colorado utilized all-around team success and strong blocking to secure the win against the Utes.
Colorado won the match with set scores of 25-22, 20-25, 25-19, and 26-24. Pin attacker Ana Burilovic recorded 16 kills, 10 digs, and two blocks, marking her 15th career double-double and reaching 150 career aces. Ines Losada tied her career-high with 14 kills and added five blocks, while Lily Dwinell contributed 12 kills and four blocks. Additionally, Cayla Payne recorded seven kills and four blocks, and Jenna Ylivainio achieved her sixth career double-double with 40 assists and 11 digs.
Head Coach Jesse Mahoney stated that the team prepared well and rebounded mentally to stay competitive. He noted that the team blocked extremely well, specifically highlighting the performance of Maria Splawska, who contributed nine blocks and four kills. Colorado's blocking was a decisive factor in the third set, where the team recorded six blocks to gain a 12-8 advantage.
This match was the second meeting between the two opponents this season. Colorado, with a record of 14-5 and 5-4 in the Big 12, sought revenge for a previous loss to Utah on its home court in September. The Buffaloes recorded 54 kills, a .195 hitting percentage, 48 assists, and 48 digs during the match.
The Buffaloes are scheduled to return to Boulder to host Cincinnati on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. at the CU Events Center. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
