The University of Colorado men’s rugby team took to the field to face neighboring rival University of Wyoming Saturday afternoon in Boulder on Kittredge Field. After a tough battle and being down a good portion of the game, the Buffs pulled out the win 24-20. This was the Buffs’ third game of the spring season. […]

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CU track and field athletes Mark Jones and Alex Kizirian are headed to Albuquerque to compete in the USATF Indoor Championships the weekend of Feb. 21. By Jillian Arja

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The CUI sports staff tests out the newly-renovated Rec Center.

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The University of Colorado volleyball team has advanced to the 2013 NCAA tournament, the 17th time in the school’s history that the team has made it to post-season play. Eight other Pac-12 teams advanced: Washington, Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, Stanford, California, USC and Utah. The Buffs will play their first match against Iowa State on […]

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The volleyball team fell to #6 Stanford Friday. By Jillian Arja

The post Volleyball loses to No. 6 Stanford at home appeared first on CU Independent.

“We just beat the No. 1 team. Most exciting game I have played in my whole career thus far. I can only imagine what’s next.” junior outside hitter Taylor Simpson said after the University of Colorado Buffaloes beat the No. 1 Washington Huskies Friday night.

The volleyball team won in a grueling four set match, to take down the top ranked Huskies (25-17, 26-14, 15-25, 25-19).

Members of the CU Volleyball Team celebrate after winning the second set of their Oct. 4th match against top-ranked Washington. The Buffs won the match three games to one. (James Bradbury/CU Independent)

This gives the Buffs a 10-3 overall record. The Huskies were undefeated going into the match tonight, with a record of 10-0.

Senior outside hitter Kerra Schroeder played an important role in the Buffs win; she ended with a .958 receiving percentage.

“I don’t think it has hit me yet, but at the same time, we finally played to our potential and I don’t think anyone in the Pac-12 is ready for it,” Schroeder said.

Taylor Simpson and Alexis Austin both contributed double digit kills for the Buffs, Simpson with 17 and Austin with 11.

To start the first, the Buffs started strong, getting a quick 10-6 lead early in the first set. After some good defense from Schroeder and some big kills by Simpson, the Buffs took the first set 25-17.

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The Buffs and Huskies battled in the second set, but the Buffs won 26-24.

Washington had the momentum early in the third, going up 10-4. They kept the lead and won the third 25-15.

The fourth set started close, with the Buffs holding the lead throughout the set. Sophomore outside hitter Alexis Austin had some big kills for the Buffs to end some long rallies and gave the Buffs some momentum. The Buffs kept feeding Austin, until they won it 25-19.

Head Coach Liz Kritza says that she knew her team could do it.

“We are not going to be satisfied until we maximize everything that we have and tonight was the best that I have seen this team play,” Kritza said.

Kritza said the team should celebrate though because this is a big win.

“We are definitely going to enjoy it and celebrate it,” Kritza said. “Wins like this are very significant.”

The Buffs play again at Coors Events Center on Sunday at noon.

Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Jillian Arja at Jillian.Arja@colorado.edu.

University of Colorado women’s volleyball team lost a long, close battle at the University of Utah Tuesday night. It was a close match, according to university athletics departments, with set scores of 25-19, 21-25, 25-18, 24-26, and 15-12.

The Buffs are now 8-2 and Utah now has a record of 12-1. It was the Buffs’ first Pac-12 match, so their conference record stands at 0-1.

Junior Jessica Aschenbrenner, 13, recieves the ASU player’s server in the final set.  CU loss to the University of Utah Tuesday night. (CU Indpendent/Amy Leder)

Junior outside hitter Taylor Simpson recorded 22 kills for the Buffs and also had 15 digs. She was the only one who hit double digits for the Buffs until junior outside hitter Alexis Austin hit 10 in the fourth set and ended the match with 11 kills.

Utah had four girls with double-digit kills.

Sophomore setter Nicole Edelman had 48 assists for the Buffs Tuesday with a hitting percentage of .111.

The Buffs return home on Friday where they will face UCLA. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Coors Events Center.

Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Jillian Arja at Jillian.arja@colorado.edu.

CU said on Monday that they are still working on rescheduling the Fresno State game or they may even try to find another team to play for a 12th game.

The CU-Fresno State game, which was scheduled to be played on Saturday, Sep. 14, was postponed due to the flooding Boulder experienced.

The Buffs have a by week this weekend, however Fresno State already has a game scheduled. The current schedule should remain untouched, with the exception of a potential 12th game or a rescheduled Fresno State game.

Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Jillian Arja at Jillian.Arja@colorado.edu.

University of Colorado volleyball player Taylor Simpson doesn’t have a common college athlete’s resume. She’s a transfer student, and CU is her third school in three years.

After playing at Nebraska and Missouri, Simpson joined the Buffs in January and she and her coach agree — silver and gold look good on her.

“The other schools just did not work out, and I have been really lucky to come to CU and have it work out how I wanted it to,” Simpson said. “This is the spot for me, so I am glad I am here.”

In only six games with the Buffs, Simpson has become one of Colorado’s top hitters. Last weekend she was named the Candlewood Suites Invite’s most valuable player at the tournament the Buffs won with just one set loss. The team is 5-1 for the season.

Head volleyball coach Liz Kritza believes CU is where Taylor will stay.

“Taylor is home here. It is the right fit,” Kritza said. “I’ve seen her come in here and make a significant impact on the court, but more importantly this is the place where she will thrive — academically, socially and in volleyball. I think she is really happy.”

Kritza said Simpson was a valuable recruit because of her experience all around the court and nation.

“Having the skill set, size, physical ability and a complete set of volleyball skills, I knew she would be able to contribute right away,” Kritza said. “She has done just that. She has worked her tail off and earned her spot on the team.”

Simpson joined an equally athletic team at CU, with women who often have to share playing time. The team’s compatibility on the court, Simpson said, has been a comfort.

“It’s been really helpful to have other people on my side of the net that can help me out so I don’t have to be swinging at every ball,” Simpson said.

Coach Kritza says that she is happy to have so many strong players capable of going for the same position. She said the healthy competition is one reason the team has been successful this year.

“It is a good thing. Human nature lends one to work harder when they have to compete for their position,” Kritza said. “It is happening in our gym in a very team oriented way, but every player on the roster understands that they have to perform at their peak because otherwise there may be someone who will be performing better that day.”

The Buffs head to Waco, Texas this weekend where they face Appalachian State, Northwestern State and Baylor. They do not return home until Sept. 27, when they will take on UCLA.

Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Jillian Arja at Jillian.arja@colorado.edu.

The volleyball team had a double header weekend against Saint Mary’s College, playing them on Friday and Saturday nights at home.

The Buffs lost to the Saint Mary’s Gaels in four sets (25-17, 25-16, 22-25, 25-19) for their first game of the season on Friday, Aug. 30 at Coors Events Center.

The volleyball team celebrates after winning the final point and match against ASU Friday Oct. 12, 2012. (Amy Leder/CU Independent File)

Redshirt senior outside hitter Kerra Schroeder returned to the court after getting injured in the 2012 season. In the 2011 season, she led the Buffs with 3.95 kills per set.

The Buffs started with Schroeder, sophomore setter Nicole Edelman, senior middle blocker Nikki Lindow, junior middle blocker Kelsey English, freshman middle blocker Joslyn Hayes and defensive specialist Elysse Richardson.

The team started strong with a quick lead of 6-3 in the first set, but some mistakes allowed Saint Mary’s to even the score at 8-8. The score would go back and forth until the Gaels started to pull away near the end of the set because of some errors by the Buffs. Saint Mary’s had 17 kills in the first set, with Colorado only three behind with 14 kills. Colorado led in kills by Lindow and outside hitter Taylor Simpson, who each contributed four. Saint Mary’s won the first set 25-17.

“Taylor carried a big load for us tonight,” head coach Liz Kritza said. “I think she would like to have a much higher hitting percentage moving forward, and I am sure she will. I am pleased. She is a nice addition to the program.”

Hayes saw playing time in all four sets. She was the only freshman to play all four sets for Colorado. Freshman defensive specialist Cierra Simpson also saw playing time in the third and fourth sets.

Saint Mary’s took control fast in the second set. The Buffs were only ahead in the beginning (5-4). Throughout the rest of the set, the Gaels dominated play. They would take a lead on the Buffs quickly (14-9). They stayed in front of Colorado throughout the remaining set and would win the second set 25-16. Saint Mary’s had five aces in the second set, with three errors. Colorado had one ace and two errors.

Colorado stayed close with the Gaels throughout the third, only trailing by three throughout the set. By the end of the set, the Gaels were up 20-17, and after some great hustle by the Buffs, Colorado fought back to take the lead (23-20). They closed out the set 25-22 to take it to a fourth set.  Colorado had more kills in this set, with 14 kills. Saint Mary’s only had 11 kills.

The Gaels got some early kills in the fourth set to give them a 13-9 lead in the fourth. Some big kills by senior Jordan Shaw gave Saint Mary’s an even larger lead (20-12). The Gaels would win the fourth 25-19.

The Gaels were led by Shaw and senior Kristina Graven in kills. Each one ended the match in double digits for kills.

“Today was a good test for us to see where we stand as a team,” Lindow said. “I think we really need to work with each other to come together and get the ball rolling. As a team, I think tomorrow is going to be a dramatic change.  It is going to be really exciting to see that improvement tomorrow.”

Lindow was right, as the CU volleyball team was able to find a way to beat Saint Mary’s in four sets Saturday night (21-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22).

Sophomore outside hitter Alexis Austin led the team with 13 kills and junior outside hitter Simpson contributed 10 kills. The Buffs had four players with nine or more kills.

Lindow had nine blocks to help her team. Together, Colorado had 13.0 blocks.

The volleyball team leaves for New York to face Stony Brook, Oakland, Rutgers and Syracuse. They will not be home again until the end of September, when they will play UCLA on Sep. 27.

Contact CU Independent Sports Editor Jillian Arja at Jillian.Arja@colorado.edu.