Spikers Finish Season Against Arizona State and No. 17 Utah

BOULDER — Colorado finishes its 2016 volleyball season this week with a pair of Pac-12 road matches. The Buffs start the week on Wednesday, Nov. 23, in Tempe, Ariz. to face Arizona State at 8 p.m. MT. The final match of the season is slated for Friday, Nov. 25, against No. 17 Utah at 1 p.m.

Wednesday's contest against Arizona State will be broadcast live on Pac-12 Mountain and Pac-12 Arizona. Friday's season finale against Utah will be televised live on Pac-12 Mountain. Links to lives stats are available on the volleyball schedule at CUBuffs.com.

ABOUT THE BUFFS: The Buffs have recorded a 13-15 overall record this season and are ninth in the Pac-12 with a 5-13 mark. The Buffs rank 56th nationally in blocks per set (2.42), which is fifth in the Pac-12, and are averaging 12.85 kills and 14.23 digs per set.

Individually, the Buffs are led by Alexa Smith, who is averaging 3.24 kills per set. At the net, sophomore Naghede Abu is averaging the 58th best total in the country, sixth in the Pac-12, at 1.24 blocks per set.

The Buffs have been running a 6-2 offense this year. Senior Kiara McKibben has played in every match this season and is averaging 5.84 assists per set. She has recently been joined by another senior, Marie Zimmerman, who is recording 2.39 assists per set in place of junior Gabby Simpson, who is out the remainder of the season due to injury. Senior Cierra Simpson leads the Buffs with 3.74 digs per set, the ninth best mark in the Pac-12.

ABOUT ARIZONA STATE: Arizona State is 10-20 overall this season and is tied for 11th in the Pac-12 with a 3-15 record. The Sun Devils are averaging 12.42 kills, 13.23 digs and 2.17 blocks per set while hitting .184.

Oluoma Okaro leads ASU with 2.69 kills per set and is first in the conference with 0.35 services aces per set. Cassidy Pickrell is second on the team with 2.55 kills per set. Halle Harker is the top passer for the Sun Devils, averaging 3.72 digs per set. At the net, Okaro is again the team leader, posting 1.11 blocks per set which is 10th in the Pac-12.

ASU leads the all-time series against CU at 7-4. The two teams have split meetings the last four seasons, but this will be the only time this year the two will meet.

ABOUT UTAH: Utah has recorded a 20-9 overall record this season, which had led to a No. 17 ranking in the latest AVCA poll. The Utes are also fifth in the Pac-12 standings with an 11-7 mark. As a team the Utes are averaging 14.20 kills, 14.61 digs and 2.25 blocks per set while hitting .256.

Adora Anae is recording the nation's 10th best kills per set average at 4.71, which also leads the conference. Anae also ranked 10^th in the NCAA, first in the Pac-12, in points per set (5.27). She is a huge part of the UU's success as she also leads the team with 3.27 digs per set. Bailey Choy is averaging 7.32 assists per set, while Jessie Openshaw is recording 5.42 assists per set. Tawnee Luafalemana ranks 13th in the Pac-12 with 1.03 blocks per set and Berkeley Oblad is second on the team with 0.98 blocks per set.

UU leads the all-time series against the Buffs at 9-7. The Utes took the first meeting between the two teams earlier in Boulder, defeating CU 3-2 (25-18, 15-25, 21-25, 25-16, 20-18).

Spikers Finish Season Against Arizona State and No. 17 Utah

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Players Mentioned

Naghede Abu

Kiara McKibben

Cierra Simpson

Gabby Simpson

Alexa Smith

Marie Zimmerman