Colorado completes reverse sweep of Kansas State
It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
After dropping the first two sets, the No. 23 Colorado Buffaloes (12-4, 3-3 Big 12) took the final three sets on the Kansas State Wildcats (9-5, 1-5 Big 12) to complete the reverse sweep.
Sophomore pin attacker Ines Losada recorded 11 kills and tied a career and season-high five aces. Senior middle blocker Cayla Payne recorded her 400th career block in a nine-block performance.
Despite 14 aces between the two teams, they both struggled from the service line, combining for 34 service errors, 17 apiece.
Senior pin attacker Ana Burilovic put down 25 kills, her second-highest mark of the season.
Colorado kept pace with Kansas State early, but a 5-0 run helped the Wildcats to a 10-7 lead, from which they didn’t look back. The Buffs didn’t lead again in the set as Wildcats freshman pin attacker Addison Massey put down six kills. Losada and Burilovic both had three kills for CU in the first set.
Losada had back-to-back aces in the latter parts of the first set to tie the game at 18, but the Wildcats pulled away, ending on a 3-0 run to take the set 25-21.
The Buffs got out to a 14-9 lead to begin the second set, which built into a 19-15 lead as they looked to close it out. However, a service error and two attack errors put K-State back in the game on a 4-0 run to tie the set at 19.
Colorado had set point twice as the set went to deuce, but the Wildcats outlasted the Buffs with two Massey kills to take the set, 28-26.
“I wouldn't say we were concerned or anxious or anything like that [after the second set],” said Colorado head coach Jesse Mahoney after the match. “We just knew we had to go and play.”
The third set was one of runs as each side had two of 3-0 or better. The Buffs’ defense started to find its rhythm, holding the Wildcats to 12 kills after they recorded 15 in both of the first two sets. Colorado also had 17 digs in the third set.
The Buffs also began to lean on their star hitter, Burilovic, who got hot. Each of the final five points the Buffs scored came on kills from the senior, as they won the set 25-22.
The fourth set was a similar story, despite K-State getting out to an early 6-1 lead. Colorado had two 3-0 and 4-0 runs to regain control before Payne and senior setter Jenna Ylivainio combined for a big block to take the fourth set 25-22 and force a tie-breaking fifth set.
The Wildcats got out to another quick start ahead 5-3, but the Buffs used a 5-1 run, with Payne recording two kills and a block, to go ahead 8-6. Four consecutive blocks fueled another 5-1 run to force match point at 14-9. Burilovic put down her 25th and final kill to secure the reverse sweep.
“I feel like anger pushed us,” said Burilovic postgame. “I feel like we were angry with the way that we lost the first two sets.”
The defense was also a big factor, as it limited K-State’s kills and efficiency as the game went on.
“In sets three, four, and five we started to slow them down offensively,” Mahoney said. “It was nice for us to show some grit.”
Colorado’s next game will be in Ames, Iowa, when it travels to play the Iowa State Cyclones (11-6, 5-1 Big 12) on Thursday, Oct. 15 (ESPN+). First serve is set for 5:30 p.m. MT.
Comments