Senior Buffs help conquer No. 16 USC

The Colorado Buffaloes are undefeated in their first eight games of the season. (Photo by Sammy Esquibel/Sko Buffs Sports)

On Saturday, the No. 23 Colorado Buffaloes upset the No. 16 University of Southern California Trojans on the road in a close four-set battle (26-24, 23-25, 25-13, 26-24). The win not only kept the Buffs (8-0) undefeated, but it also marked the first-ever Black and Gold win at USC’s Galen Center.

The Trojans wasted no time as the first set opened and quickly went on a three-point run. However, Colorado capitalized on two errors from USC and proceeded to go on a six-point run of their own. Kills from senior pin attacker Sydney Jordan and an ace from junior defensive specialist Katie Salonga boosted the Buffs to a 9-7 lead.

After extensive rallies, the Trojans looked as though they were ready to take the first set. A kill from CU’s junior middle blocker Maria Splawska, along with two back-to-back errors from USC, knotted the two teams at 23. 

The set eventually headed into a deuce where a kill from senior Ana Burilovic and a block from middle blocker Cayla Payne and senior setter Jenna Ylivainio put the set to sleep.

The Buffs struggled to transition into the second set, and the Trojans capitalized on the strain. Colorado valiantly fought back against USC and eventually cut into the Trojans’ lead. 

Nevertheless, USC had the upper hand and found themselves with a four-point lead against the Black and Gold. A tug-of-war ensued, but the Trojans managed and captured the set 25-23.

The Buffs wasted no time as the match went into the third set. 

Colorado secured the first seven points of the set thanks to the serves from junior libero Tinons Munar Galmes and kills from Lily Dwinell, Burilovic and Payne.

After conceding one point, Colorado proceeded to go on another three-point run. 

As the Buffs continued to dominate in the third set, a service ace from Ylivainio comfortably gave the Black and Gold a 15-6 lead heading into a media timeout. 

Ylivainio helped close out the third set after securing the final point with a solo block.

The two squads were continuously knotted in the fourth set after an exchange of points rallied between the teams. 

It wasn’t until a kill from Jordan and Dwinell that gave CU  the slight advantage of 17-15. A solo block from Ylivainio put the Buffs into set point, and a final solo block from Jordan secured Colorado’s eighth victory of the season.

“We’re a veteran team that did a lot of good things last year, but it’s good for us to see that hard work pay off, and understand that there’s not a match this season that we’re not going to be in a position to win,” head coach Jesse Mahoney said.

The Buffaloes return home to take on the Colorado State Rams. The battle for the Golden Spike is set for Thursday at 7 p.m. MT (ESPN+).