Buffs power by Toledo for sixth sweep of season

Colorado pin attacker Ana Burilovic has led a historic turnaround to start the Buffaloes' season. (Photo by Ryan Asaro/Sko Buffs Sports)

The Colorado Buffaloes volleyball team (8-0) swept the Toledo Rockets (6-2) to stay undefeated this season and gain its second-best start in program history. Star pin attacker Ana Burilovic led the Buffs with 12 kills and four aces, while junior pin attacker Sydney Jordan recorded four blocks, nine kills and eight digs.

The first set started as a back-and-forth battle. While Toledo took an early lead, with CU struggling to cover defensively, Burilovic broke the Rockets’ run with two back-to-back kills, energizing the Buffs to tie the first set at five. 

Jordan kept the Buffs rolling with an ace and a kill on back-to-back plays, as Colorado took a 15-10 lead. 

Toledo then went on a 9-1 run to lead 19-16, forcing CU to take a timeout. From there, the Buffs battled back, and Burilovic slammed down her fifth kill of the set to seal Colorado’s 25-22 win.

After the close first set, Colorado didn’t waste time in the second. Fueled by two kills from middle blocker Cayla Payne, plus two aces from Burilovic, the Buffs took an 8-4 lead. Toledo took a timeout to try to break CU’s streak, but Colorado didn’t slow down.

Colorado volleyball coach Jesse Mahoney (kneeling, right) talks strategy during a stoppage of the Buffaloes' Saturday win over Toledo. (Ryan Asaro/Sko Buffs Sports)

Another back-to-back ace and kill by Burilovic continued the momentum, and from there ran away with it. With a final ace by senior libero Sarah Morton, CU won 25-15.

The final set featured long rallies and proved slightly more difficult for Colorado to pull away. The Rockets went on a 5-0 run to tie the set at eight, but CU fought back, out-digging Toledo 18-7 and recording 13 kills in the set. Colorado won the match on a Toledo service error; the final score of the third set was 25-15.

“We struggled in that first set,” head coach Jesse Mahoney said. “We were able to right the ship there in the second half of that set, and I think we did a really nice job in sets two and three.”

Despite the slow start, CU persevered against a physical Toledo team, often through long rallies.

“It’s a lot about energy and grit. If we win those big momentum plays, that’s amazing,” said Morton, who had 10 kills on the night.

The Buffs will look to stay undefeated as they take on the Denver Pioneers (5-2) at 2 p.m. MT on Sunday, for the final match of the Buffs Invitational. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.