Defying the Odds: Inside Colorado Volleyball’s Historic 2025 Campaign
- Aditya Makam
- 20 minutes ago
- 4 min read
The 2025 Colorado Buffaloes volleyball team had one of the highest-achieving seasons in school history, making the second round in the NCAA tournament.
The Buffaloes were picked to finish 10th in the Big 12 preseason poll, earning 84 points from voters. The Buffs turned that prediction around, finishing fourth with a record of 23-9, 12-6 Big 12. The Buffs finished the season No. 24 in the AVCA rankings.
In an era defined by NIL and the transfer portal, roster continuity became one of Colorado’s defining strengths. Ten players returned from the previous season as the Buffs chose stability among the over 700 players entering the transfer portal nationwide.
However, the Buffs weren’t completely unscathed. Among those departures was setter Taylor Simpson, who transferred to Washington, making Colorado’s ability to reload internally even more notable.
The Buffaloes were led by Ana Burilović, a pin hitter from Split, Croatia, in her third season with the Buffs. She delivered a career-defining season in Boulder and emerged as the team’s competitive anchor. Voted to the preseason All-Big 12 second team, she exceeded those expectations by a landslide.
Burilović credited her team’s internal chemistry and growth as the driving force behind Colorado’s success.
“This season was full of growth,” Burilović said. “I think the chemistry we had was the biggest difference from last year; it was unmatched.”
She amassed a total of seven awards, highlighted by selections to the All-Big 12 First Team, AVCA West Region First Team, and AVCA All-America Third Team.
A more intentional approach to her preparation was behind Burilović’s production.
“It was a lot of little details,” Burilović said. “I really prioritized my sleep and my eating habits and found a routine that worked for me. It took a lot of discipline, but it was worth it.”
She also moved herself up on the all-time CU list in multiple categories. She finished the season with 565 kills, ranking second in single-season program history behind outside hitter Taylor Simpson’s 591 in 2014. She also recorded 51 aces on the year, placing her sixth all-time in a single season. Her 1,061 career kills ranked 15th in Colorado history, just behind outside hitter Maya Tabron’s 1,083, and her 1,424 attacks in a single season set a new program record.
This season would not have been possible without the supporting cast around Burilović. Pin hitters Sydney Jordan and Lily Dwinell, middle blockers Cayla Payne and Maria Spawska, libero Sarah Morton, and setter Rian Finley are the key examples.
All of these players had career years, starting with Jordan and Dwinell, who had 288 and 202 kills, respectively. Payne reached 23 blocks and 254 kills, while Spawska reached 18 blocks and 114 kills. Morton dug the ball 333 times, and Finley served as the engine on offense, totaling 1,125 assists, good for third in the Big 12.
With key players and leaders moving on, Burilović emphasized that the program’s leadership foundation remains strong.
“We’re losing two great leaders and friends, but I already see people stepping up,” Burilović said. “Sydney’s been a captain for the last two seasons, and players like Cayla and other rising seniors are taking on bigger roles. I’m not worried about our leadership at all.”
The Big 12 is a gauntlet in all sports, and volleyball is no exception. Eight teams were sent to the NCAA tournament this season, trailing only the Big Ten, which sent nine teams.
The depth of the conference left little margin for error, with ranked-caliber opponents lining up week in and week out and road environments that tested even veteran rosters.
The Buffs were tested the second they entered conference play, going on the road to No. 14 BYU and No. 23 Utah. They came out victorious, sweeping the Cougars and dropping only one set against the Utes, with Burilović hitting the double-double mark in both games.
Then came the challenge of the Arizona State Sun Devils, led by phenomenal opposite hitter Noemie Glover, a transfer from Oregon. The Buffs put up a challenge but dropped their first Big 12 game to the eventual conference champion.
The Buffs didn't let a loss rattle them. After the loss to the Sun Devils, the Buffaloes went on a six-game winning streak before running into No. 13 Kansas.
The Buffaloes ended the season on a cold streak, losing four of their last six games. Their record earned them the No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament.
The Buffs were matched up against the American Eagles (24-5, 15-1 Patriot League) in the first round of the NCAA tournament and swept them in straight sets. Jordan led the way with 15 kills while Burilović added nine. Finley totaled 33 assists.
Then came the bright lights of Wilkinson Hall, the home of the No. 4 seed Indiana Hoosiers (24-6, 14-6 Big Ten). The Buffs had their chance to carry their momentum into hostile territory, yet Indiana quickly made it clear that nothing would come easy on its home court.
Indiana seized control early in each set, but Colorado refused to let the match run away. The Buffaloes extended rallies, forcing long exchanges at the net. This turned what seemed to be a lopsided sweep into tightly contested stretches that demanded full focus from the Hoosiers.
Despite the sweep, Colorado’s competitiveness was evident throughout the match, a fight that showed up clearly once the numbers were examined.
Burilović led the Colorado with 19 kills as Jordan and Payne added 7 each. Finley totaled 29 assists. The Hoosiers were powered by opposite hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles’ 17 kills, and freshman standout opposite hitter Jadyn Jaiger’s16.
The 2025 season marked a turning point for Colorado Volleyball. Exceeding expectations in one of the nation’s toughest conferences, the Buffaloes combined continuity, belief, and balance to establish themselves as a legitimate Big 12 contender. With key contributors moving on and new leaders set to emerge, the foundation built in 2025 positions Colorado to remain competitive on both the conference and national stage.
For Burilović, the season set a new standard for the program.
“I want this team to be remembered as the greatest team Colorado’s ever had,” Burilović said. “Next year we want to take another step and compete for a conference championship.”
If this season set the standard, the Buffaloes now enter the future intent on pushing it even higher.
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