CU sweep Denver to go perfect in Buffs Classic Tournament

The Colorado Buffaloes went undefeated over the weekend's Buffs Classic Tournament and did not lose a single set. (Photo by Fidel Gonzalez/Sko Buffs Sports)

That’s all, folks. The Colorado Buffaloes wrapped up the Buffs Classic Tournament with a sweep of the University of Denver Pioneers. The Buffs went perfect over the course of the tournament and did not surrender a single set.

Colorado collected 39 kills, a hitting percentage of .263%, five aces, 27 digs and 19 blocks. Denver didn’t trail too far behind with 39 kills, a hitting percentage of only .122%, three aces, 39 digs and only seven blocks. Despite the sweep, the Pioneers made Sunday evening difficult for the hosts.

The first set opened with a fast start as a short dig from Colorado’s Sydney Jordan quickly allowed for Denver’s Kayla Patel to kill the play immediately. The Buffs were temporarily kept at bay by the Crimson and Gold.

As little mistakes started to add up for the Pioneers, the Buffs slowly started to pull away. Solid defensive plays by Jordan and Barbora Rakauskaite kept the Buffs on a 5-0 run, which forced  DU into a timeout.

As the Buffs continued to keep a comfortable distance towards the latter half of the set, the crowd’s energy began to soar with them. Back-to-back kills by Ana Burilovic helped the Buffs inch closer to stealing the first set.

The Black and Gold looked much more relaxed on court late in the set. The clear communication and buzzing energy from the crowd created a perfect environment for Colorado to take the first set 25-19.

“It’s always great when the CUEC [CU Events Center] is rocking, and we get people cheering. It helps hype the players up.” Buffs head coach Jesse Mahoney said. “[The players] want to go out and play for themselves, but they love playing for their fans as well.”

As the second set started to unfold, the Pioneers were desperate for a comeback. DU took off to a hot start and led the Buffaloes 4-0. However, Colorado’s defense was as strong as a brick wall and allowed the Black and Gold to go on a 4-0 run to knot the set.

As the set continued, the Buffaloes started to look like last year's team: cool, confident and accountable.

New libero Tinons Muna Galmes’ talent shined towards the middle of the second set. The connection between returning the ball, getting it to setter Jenna Ylivainio, and getting it back over the net was prolific. So much so that it forced DU into yet another timeout.

“[Attacks] always change a little bit throughout a match. It was pretty easy for me today because we always had three good hitters who can kill the ball,” Ylivainio said. “I was just giving them the ball, and they were killing it.”

As both squads fairly jousted throughout the remainder of the set, Buffs senior pin attacker Lily Dwinell put the set to sleep with a strong, swift kill to secure the set 25-21 for the Buffs.

With some fair fighting to open the third, an echoing kill from Burilovic knotted the two teams at four. As the set carried on, every point became a battle. The Pioneers and Buffs stayed tied for nearly the whole first half of the set, with neither team able to make a run.

A tired Colorado continued, but with DU's desperation and a quieter shift in the crowd’s energy, the fight to sweep the Maroon and Gold became that much harder. As the game carried on, coach Mahoney challenged a call that was later reversed. Following the reversal, a powerful kill by Sydney Jordan seemed to awaken both the team and the crowd.

As the CUEC speakers blared Purge-like music, tensions rose dramatically. The crowd buzzed with anticipation and the window to win narrowed. A joust at the net by Rakauskaite kept Colorado’s three-point lead alive late.

The crowd’s enthusiasm took off after a solo block by Dwinell took the Buffs into match point. With the crowd on its feet, chanting “Sko Buffs”, a kill by Burilovic finished the final set 25-22.

The Buffs' next matchup will welcome Wichita State as they head into the Buffs Invitational on Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. (ESPN+).