CU opens Big 12 play with big road upset win against No. 14 BYU

Colorado Buffaloes volleyball huddles in celebration after an upset of the No. 14-ranked BYU Cougars on Thursday. (Photo by CU Athletics)

The Colorado Buffaloes volleyball team took on a challenging No.14 BYU Cougars team to open Big 12 play on Thursday night. Traveling to Provo, Utah, the Buffs secured a statement upset win against the undefeated Cougars. 

CU entered the night third in the Big 12 for opponent hitting percentage, holding teams to just .154 overall. Driving this point home, the Buffs held the Cougars hitless, to just eight kills and as many errors on their home court in set one. 

The Buffs looked to junior outside hitter Ana Burilovic to provide her usual offensive spark – she had no problem delivering. In the first set, the junior matched the BYU offense with eight kills by herself. 

Burilovic came into the matchup boasting 5.47 points per set– good enough for second in conference and 15th in NCAA. She showed her versatility throughout the match, managing swings on out-of-system plays and exhibiting her powerful follow-through whenever possible. 

The Buffs’ hot start forced the home team to use its two timeouts early, and they cruised to a 25-14 upper hand. Forcing uncharacteristic hitting errors and successfully challenging a call to keep their momentum alive, CU hit an impressive .565 as a team and handed the Cougars their first set one loss of the season. 

Cayla Payne was another major contributor and often came through in critical moments for CU. Using her length to win jousts over the net and consistently executing her signature slide approach, Payne complemented CU’s front-row attack flawlessly. 

In a competitive second set, the junior’s experience and composure propelled the Buffs to a tight 25-23 win to go up two sets to none. Head coach Jesse Mahoney utilized his challenges to their full potential through the first two sets, going an impressive three-for-three and helping his team stay in front. 

“I'm really proud of the team," Mahoney said. "[We] came in after losing two in a row – we had a great week of practice, we've been really focused in on this team and executed a really good game plan."

Trying to keep BYU’s dynamic offense off-balance, CU looked to freshman Inés Losada to provide heat from the service line. Despite a few of her attempts missing the mark, her 56-mile-per-hour topspin serve was a major asset for the Buffs.

Entering the night third in the Big 12 in service aces per set (1.88), the efficiency from the service line provided the Buffs a key advantage, putting pressure on BYU’s passing game. 

Despite BYU going up 17-10, CU clawed back to get within one down 20-21, won yet another successful challenge and drove home an ace serve to tie the set at 22. However, the Cougars refused to be swept in their conference home opener and secured a win in the third set by a score of 25-23. 

The fourth set had a different sense of urgency than the previous set; BYU felt the importance of extending its unblemished record, and CU was striving to put the match away for good. Another back-and-forth set ensued, with each team refusing to let up. However, the Buffs had the confidence and energy to outperform the Cougars. 

Who else to seal a top-25 win for the Buffs but Burilovic? With the game on the line, set point up 24-21, a perfectly delivered ace would close it out for CU in Provo. 

“We were so locked in. We knew we could beat this team… Everything was working for us tonight,” Burilovic told reporters postgame. 

The Buffs’ first Big 12 outing delivered on all accounts: drama, high-level competition and unparalleled conference rivalry. 

CU will continue its Big 12 road trip and look to keep its winning streak alive against the No. 23 Utah Utes on Saturday.