Buffs Win Season Opener, Give Mahoney First Win At CU

PORTLAND, Ore. — Colorado volleyball coach Jesse Mahoney led the Buffaloes to a 3-2 victory against Texas Tech on Friday night, earning his first win at the helm of the program at the Portland State Tournament.

The Buffs rallied back from a 2-1 deficit to win the match 20-25, 25-19, 24-26, 25-18, 15-8. Sophomore outside hitter Alexa Smith had an outstanding debut for the Buffs, hammering a career high 23 kills in the win. She also recorded a .362 hitting efficiency and added eight digs and a pair of aces in the victory.

FRIDAY'S STORYLINE: CU took the first three points to start the match, but TTU rattled off four straight points to go ahead 4-3. The two teams kept it close until the Red Raiders put together a 4-0 run to take an 18-13 advantage, causing the Buffs to use a timeout. CU climbed back within three points at 20-17, but TTU pulled back ahead with a kill (21-17) and hung on for the set win, 25-20.

The second set saw TTU take a 4-0 lead to start, but the Buffs came back to even the game at 10-10. The Red Raiders took the following point with a kill, but then senior Katelyn Cuff and junior Joslyn Hayes teamed up with a pair of blocks, giving CU a 12-11 lead. The Buffs added another three straight points, two which were aces by Smith, to go up 15-11. TTU got back within two points (21-19) late in the set, but CU recorded the last four points, including a pair of kills from Cuff, to win take the set 25-19.

The third game was tied 13-13 when TTU used a 4-0 run to take a 17-13 lead. The Buffs answered with their own 3-0 run, getting within a point (17-16). The two sides exchanged the next three points, with TTU earning a 19-17 advantage. At that point, Colorado turned up the heat, rattling off five consecutive points to go up 22-19. But TTU would come back again to even the set at 23-23, forcing the Buffs to use a timeout. CU took the first point out of the break, but the Red Raiders finished the frame 26-24.

Colorado started the fourth set with a 9-5 lead, causing TTU to take an early timeout. The Red Raiders stormed back within one (9-8), but again CU was able to pull ahead to a four point advantage at 13-9. The Buffs stayed strong and increased their lead to 20-15, causing TTU to again use a timeout. The Buffs kept the pressure on and closed the set easily 25-18.

The Buffs took a 5-3 lead to start the fifth set before TTU evened it at 6-6. Colorado took the next two points, thanks to a pair of kills by Smith, giving CU an 8-6 advantage at the side change. The Red Raiders got within a point at 9-8, but the Buffs were determined to take the set and finished it 15-8 with a commanding 6-0 run.

STANDOUTS: Hayes and Cuff led the Buffs with eight blocks, a career best for both, and each also recorded 10 kills. Cuff hit .500 with just one error on 18 attacks, and Hayes hit .444 with two errors on 18 swings. Junior outside hitter Stephanie Shadley had a career high 15 kills and a pair of aces. Senior setter Kiara McKibben handed out 41 of CU's 60 assists and added seven digs in the process. Senior libero Cierra Simpson had a team-best 14 digs.

STATISTICS: The Buffs out-hit TTU .326 to .252. CU also had 66 kills to the Red Raiders' 63. The Buffs posted 12.0 team blocks (22 assists and one solo) to TTU's 9.0 (18 block assists).

NOTEABLE: Smith and McKibben made their debuts for the Buffs against TTU…Junior setter Marie Zimmerman and redshirt freshman Taylor Joachim came in during the second set to record their first action as a Buff…Colorado leads the all-time series against TTU 26-5…This was the first meeting for the two schools since the Buffs left the Big 12 for the Pac-12 in 2011…CU and TTU have played five sets in 10 match-ups, with the Buffs victorious in seven of those…Colorado is now 20-11 in season openers.

QUOTABLE: Jesse Mahoney, head coach
"We are obviously excited to start off the season with a win. Every match this season is going to be a fight and Texas Tech reminded us of that very quickly. I'm proud of our team's fight after going down 1-2 heading into the fourth set. Our play in sets four and five is some of the best volleyball I've seen our team play since we started two weeks ago."

"With Gabby Simpson out this weekend, Kiara (McKibben) and Marie (Zimmerman) split duties running our offense and did so very efficiently looking at the efficiency numbers. I'm especially happy to see Alexa Smith terminate at the level she did given the load we put on her in the match."

"It's a quick turnaround and we are back on the court in 12 short hours against a very good Portland State team that beat Long Beach State today- we will have to play at a higher level tomorrow."

NEXT UP: The Buffs face host Portland State on Saturday, August 27, at 10:30 a.m. MT. That match will be streamed live on GoViks.com for free. CU will wrap up the tournament on Saturday night against Long Beach State at 7 p.m. MT. Live stats for both matches are available at GoViks.com.

THE OTHER TOURNAMENT MATCH-UP: In the first match of the Portland State Tournament, PSU defeated Long Beach State 3-1 (25-18, 25-14, 18-25, 27-25).

Buffs Win Season Opener, Give Mahoney First Win At CU

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Team Stats

Alexa Smith

Stephanie Shadley

Katelyn Cuff

Joslyn Hayes

Players Mentioned

Katelyn Cuff

Joslyn Hayes

Taylor Joachim

Kiara McKibben

Stephanie Shadley

Cierra Simpson

Gabby Simpson

Alexa Smith

Marie Zimmerman

Players Mentioned

Katelyn Cuff

Joslyn Hayes

Taylor Joachim

Kiara McKibben

Stephanie Shadley

Cierra Simpson

Gabby Simpson

Alexa Smith

Marie Zimmerman