No. 17 Colorado prepares to battle CSU for the Golden Spike
The No. 17-ranked Colorado Buffaloes take on their in-state rival, the Colorado State Rams, in the 50th all-time matchup and the seventh battle for the Golden Spike on Thursday.
Over the last five Golden Spike matchups, neither team has an advantage, with the match series tied at five apiece. Each team has won the trophy three times, adding weight to this iteration, with both teams still able to take the all-time lead.
The Buffs are led by star pin hitter Ana Burilovic, who is averaging 4.32 kills per set, earning 95 kills in just six games and a hitting percentage of .286. Middle blocker Cayla Payne is averaging 2.32 kills per set, totaling 51 kills with a hitting percentage of .374, along with 31 block assists and one solo block.
The Buffs also have help from setter Jenna Ylivainio, who was named to the Big 12 starting seven. She has helped the Buffs succeed with 219 assists, averaging 9.95 assists per game. Behind Ylivainio, libero Tinons Munar-Galmes has anchored Colorado’s back-row defense, leading the team with 77 digs, good for 3.5 digs per set.
Despite the history between the rivals, this will be freshman setter Elle Richardson’s first taste of the rivalry as a Buff.
“This is technically my first rival game on the team, so I'm excited to come out with a little bit more fight,” Richardson said. “We’ll have fun, but definitely a lot of drive; everyone wants to win this pretty bad.”
Senior Sydney Jordan, who has been with the Buffs for four years, has tasted the rivalry and losing the trophy, and now she wants it back.
“We’re really, really excited obviously and we want to take home the Golden Spike,” Jordan said. “This is the moment to show up. It’s definitely time.”
Up in Fort Collins, the Rams are led by outside hitter Halle Jameson, averaging 3.45 kills per set with 100 total kills. Alongside her is freshman phenom outside hitter Ella Stowell, with 74 kills.
Middle blocker Eve Wilson has held it down at the net with 34 block involvements, including six solo blocks, and is the Rams’ most efficient attacker, with a .407 hitting percentage and 72 kills. Defensively, libero Karsyn Fetzer leads Colorado State with 104 digs, averaging 3.59 per set.
On the other side of the rivalry, Colorado State is just as eager to come away with a win.
“They know it's a big game; obviously, CU is ranked,” Fetzer said. “I think the whole team just wants to beat them. We know it is CU they are ranked. We're gonna go and beat them.”
Wilson said being part of the rivalry has helped her understand the deep history between the two programs.
“Not realizing how many rivals we had when you're in there, and the moment you realize the deep history between the teams,” Wilson said.
The Golden Spike Series starts Thursday at 7 p.m. MT at the CU Events Center on ESPN+ before finishing Friday at 6 p.m. MT at Moby Arena on Pac-12 Youtube.
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