Buffs continue Big 12 upset run after winning joust with UCF Knights

Colorado Buffaloes volleyball celebrates after a win over the UCF Knights on Thursday. (Photo by Tyler Phillips/Sko Buffs Sports)

The Colorado Buffaloes (12-2, 3-0 Big 12) jousted with the Central Florida Knights (10-4, 1-2 Big 12) in a five-set battle Thursday night. The Knights pulled away with the first and second sets (21-25, 32-30), while the Buffs charged back and secured the final three (25-17, 25-23, 22-20) in a five-set victory.

Ana Burilović had a career high of 32 kills. Despite Burlovic’s success, the Knights outscored the Buffs in every aspect except aces (9-6) and blocks (17-15.5). It wasn’t until the third set that the Buffs finally gained some traction.

Following the first set, there was some clear frustration amongst the Buffs on the court. The Knights partook in overly ecstatic celebrations, which seemed to play a huge role in the Buffs’ concentration. 

The Buffaloes gave over 17 kills in the first set alone. It was simple things like a setter's tip and serving towards the upper court that kept throwing off CU. The Buffs weren’t giving up that easily, though. 

Heading into the second set, the Buffs started to pick up some of the Knights’ own tactics. A tip from setter Rian Finley in the set’s early volleys encouraged hope for the Buffs. Two most notable plays in the second set were Cayla Payne and Burilović’s assisted block (22-19) in addition to the latter’s kill near set point (23-23).

Even with horns and swords out in the second set, hope quickly started to fade. The set ran over (30-32) with the Knights seizing control after two critical mistakes from Burilović.

However, the Knights' swords dulled as the squads headed into the third set. A 42-second volley, accompanied by four consecutive assisted blocks from duo Payne and Lily Dwinell, and finished off by a stellar kill from Burilović (4-1), helped the Buffs make a rebound. The Buffaloes managed to finish the job in both the third and fourth sets, tying the two teams.

As the Buffaloes and Knights rolled over into a fifth set, the crowd’s energy soared. Hecklers in the stands and chants from fans grew louder, rattling the Knights and giving over plentiful points to the Buffs.

The Buffs got off to a four-point head start, putting some distance between the two before UCF called its second-to-last timeout. A key turning point was head coach Mahoney’s challenge for a touch that was later reversed in the Buffaloes’ favor.

Both teams had their game faces on as they headed into the last five points of the game. With each point the Buffaloes raked up, fans boomed with a thunderous roar and awaited with anticipation. Defensive specialist and libero, Sarah Morton, reminded her fellow Buffs of what pressure is in those moments.

“We remind each other that pressure is a privilege,” Morton said. “We take deep breaths as a team, and we tell each other we are confident in ourselves. We don’t need to change anything that we’re doing. This is the situation we are in, and we’re grateful for that, and we’re going to work our butts off. And at the end of the day, as long as we fight as long as we can, that’s all that matters.”

UCF put up a dying fight with a coach’s challenge that was later denied. Just when the Knights thought they had pulled away from the Buffs in a premature celebration, coach Mahoney challenged the call yet again.

The match point, which was then reversed, tied the teams 20-20. CU’s final stab was sealed with two consecutive kills from the one and only Buriloiviċ. 

The Buffaloes head up against their next Big 12 opponent, the  Houston Cougars, this Saturday back at the CU Event Center. The game can be watched on ESPN+ at 1 p.m. MT.