CU sweeps Wichita State to open Buffs Invitational

The Colorado Buffaloes swept the Wichita State Shockers on Friday night in the first game of the Buffs Invitational. (Photo by Kekoa Brown/Sko Buffs Sports)

On the first day of the Buffs Invitational, the No. 23 Colorado Buffaloes swept the Wichita State Shockers (2-2) in three sets. In a match defined by momentum swings, Colorado answered nearly every Wichita State punch with one of its own to remain undefeated. 

The Buffs won with set scores of 25-18, 25-21, and 25-19.

The Buffs drew first blood, opening the match with a 3-0 run behind strong defensive plays from libero Tinons Munar-Galmes. Wichita State answered with a 4-0 run of its own, including back-to-back aces from setter Addie Oeth.

The Buffs responded immediately. Pin hitter Ana Burilović powered a 4-0 run with two aces and a kill before Colorado broke open the set with six unanswered points. Kills from pin hitter Lily Dwinell and middle blocker Maria Splawksa helped build the lead before Burilović drove a kill right into the heart of the Shockers’ defense, closing the set 25-18.

Wichita State came out firing in the second set, racing out to a 4-0 lead with three kills and another ace from Oeth. Colorado responded with a 6-2 run to pull even at seven. 

Colorado extended their lead to 18-12 with the help of a 6-0 run, which included kills from Burilović and Dwinell, a block by Dwinell, an attack error from the Shockers and two back-to-back aces from Munar-Galmes.

Then came match point for the Buffs. A kill from Burilović seemed to have sealed the second set, but Shockers head coach Chris Lamb challenged the call and succeeded.  Nevertheless, an attack error from McKenzie Jones ended the second set 25-21.

Munar-Galmes helped Colorado separate itself from Wichita State at the service line.

“That's what Jesse [Mahoney] tells me all the time, to just keep it aggressive and let our defense play,” Munar-Galmes said.

The third set started the same way as the second, with Wichita State jumping out to a quick 3-0 lead. The Buffs, not fazed, went on a 7-1 run to bring the score to 8-4 with help of multiple Shockers’ errors, kills by Payne and Burilović and an ace from Munar-Galmes.

With the CU Events Center rocking and everyone on their feet, sending rumbles through the stadium, the Buffs reached match point after a Shockers attack error. Setter Jenna Ylivainio set the ball up for pin hitter Ines Losada, who smashed it past the Shockers to close out the sweep.

“I thought that was a really good game," head coach Jesse Mahoney said. "They do a lot of things that put pressure on you defensively. They serve extremely well.”

That pressure showed throughout the match, with Wichita State jumping out to early leads and forcing the Buffs to respond with runs of their own.

Colorado takes on the New Mexico Lobos (1-2) in the second day of the Buffs Invitational at 6 pm tonight (ESPN+).