Finley guides No. 22 Buffs over No. 16 TCU in gritty five-set match

Redshirt junior Colorado Buffaloes setter Rian Finley's breakout season hit a high point Thursday night, surpassing 1000 career assists in a thrilling win over TCU. (Photo by Fidel Gonzales/Sko Buffs Sports)

The No. 22 Colorado Buffaloes (21-5, 11-3 Big 12) grinded out a victory against the No. 16 TCU Horned Frogs (18-8, 8-6 Big 12) in their second-longest game this season. After dropping two straight games against Kansas and Kansas State, the Buffs bounced back in spectacular fashion. 

This is the Buffs’ sixth game this season that has gone to the fifth set, and they have yet to lose one. It is also the third comeback from a 2-1 set deficit this season, showing that there is no quit in this team.

“One thing that this team does this season is… that many times when we have been down or struggling, we have found a way to respond,” head coach Jesse Mahoney said postgame.

CU often found itself behind because of costly attacking errors, with a season-high 36 against the Frogs. Serving errors also plagued the Buffs as they had 14 compared to TCU’s 10.

However, a standout performance from redshirt junior Rian Finley helped the Buffs get past their errors for the match win. Finley had 50 assists across the five sets, reaching a career milestone of 1000.

“That means everything," Finley said. "It’s a lot of hard work put into it, and then being able to deliver balls to my hitters."

The Buffs earned a hard-fought win in the first set, 25-21, to set the tone for the rest of the match. Both teams traded points early, with neither able to get a larger lead than three points until a four-point streak by the Buffs put them up 19-15. TCU would respond with a 6-3 point run to cut the lead to one at 22-21. 

CU then pounced on a service error made by sophomore Evan Hendrix, which the CU Events Center’s loud crowd affected. A three-point streak by the Buffs would give them the set.

The second set started similarly to the first as the two top-25 teams tightly clashed. TCU would take the second set 25-19 after a dominant second half. Errors by CU would stack up, and a spirited comeback attempt by Maria Spawska with back-to-back aces to make it 23-19 TCU was shot down by a kill from Hendrix and one final attacking error.

Errors were even more prevalent in the third set, as the Buffs gave up stretches of five straight and three straight points off errors. The set remained close until TCU began to run away, going from 10-10 to 19-12.

CU took a timeout and came back swinging, scoring three points in a row, before an Ines Losada service error led to a four-point streak for TCU. The comeback was too far out of reach, and TCU took the third set 25-19.

Knowing that their backs were up against the wall, the Buffs came into the fourth ready to battle for the extra set. A tough start of three straight kills by the Horned Frogs did not get the Buffs’ spirits down, as they fought back to tie the game. 

Neither team was going to give way, as seven lead changes occurred. Just when it looked like the Buffs were gaining some space on a three-point run, a controversial call that went their way was changed after a long referee conversation. Boos rained from the CU Events Center’s crowd as they were forced to replay the serve. 

The Buffs bounced back, however, as they managed to get to match point with three kills and an error. TCU was not done yet, rallying for three straight points to push the fourth set into overtime. 

The extra serves were no different than the rest as fans watched leads change, anxiously awaiting a Buffs win. Sydney Jordan and Ana Burilovic would deliver with back-to-back kills to take the fourth set 29-27.

The Buffs aren’t strangers to fifth sets and were prepared from the start. They got out to a nice early 8-5 lead when the teams switched sides of the court, and an ace by Finley would force TCU to take a timeout. It would be TCU who came out ready, next going on a 7-3 run to make it 13-12 CU. 

The Buffs would secure a match point with an error by Hendrix, and the Events Center crowd stood patiently waiting for the comeback’s completion. TCU would again not go out easily and battled back to send the fifth set to overtime. 

The already anxious crowd watched the nail-biting overtime as TCU earned the first match point, but consecutive errors by Becca Kelly gave CU the advantage. TCU would fight two match points, but a kill by Lily Dwinell set up the final match point.

A high-pressure final play with countless blocks and digs from CU would ultimately result in an error that would end the fifth set 19-17.

The Buffs will look to stay undefeated at home against Big 12 opponents when they play No. 8 Arizona State on Saturday at 1 p.m. MT on ESPN+.