Buffs return to Top 25, look to prove themselves against Big 12’s best
After falling out of the Top 25 for the first time this season, the Buffs returned to the rankings in the latest AVCA poll with 85 points, landing them at the bottom.
Colorado is currently one of six ranked teams in the Big 12: BYU, ASU, Kansas, TCU, and Baylor.
The Buffaloes are 16-5 (7-4 Big 12), with key wins over No. 24 Baylor and Utah. However, CU struggled against the Big 12's top teams, losing to No. 8 BYU, No. 9 ASU and No. 16 TCU.
Colorado faced a tough October slate, with six of its eight games on the road and four against ranked teams. The Buffs came out battle-tested but took hit after hit and fell out of the rankings last week.
Then came a turning point; the Buffs went to Salt Lake City and beat the Utah Utes 3-1. This time, they didn't rely solely on star pin hitter Ana Buriloviç, an Achilles’ heel because they give her the ball the most. Pin hitters Lily Dwinell and Ines Losada added 14 and 12 kills respectively, showing Colorado can spread the ball around and produce efficiently.
The Buffs then welcomed the Cincinnati Bearcats and Texas Tech Red Raiders into the CU Events Center. The Bearcats gave the Buffs a scare, pushing the match to five sets. Colorado leaned heavily on Buriloviç, who hit .296 and scored 22 kills.
The Red Raiders, the worst team in the Big 12, didn't give the Buffs much of a fight, falling in three sets. However, it benefited the Buffs because they could share the ball. Middle blocker Cayla Payne had 10 kills on a .615 hitting percentage, behind Buriloviç 13.
The three consecutive wins helped Colorado regain momentum after a difficult stretch of Big-12 play. The Buffs showed they could win close matches while also getting production from multiple attackers. Their recent performances helped strengthen their case in the AVCA poll.
Next up, the Buffs face the BYU Cougars, the Big 12's lone undefeated team. CU had a shot at them in Provo but lost in four sets. Like most top teams, the Cougars also have two strong hitters: Claire Little Chambers and Eili Mortensen.
Last time, BYU used their defense to limit Buriloviç to 13 kills on a .053 hitting percentage. Losada, however, found a hot streak, scoring 14 kills.
The Buffs have another shot on Thursday to show they can dance with the top teams. To do so, they will have to stunt the Cougars' powerful hitters while also sharing the ball among their offense.
Colorado has the skill and strategy to stay ranked, which begs the question: can they get hot at the right time leading into the NCAA tournament?
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