The Colorado Buffaloes (5-3) claimed a hard-fought victory over the UC Irvine Anteaters (4-3), winning in a thrilling five-set match (21-25, 25-17, 19-25, 25-20, 15-13) during the Buffs Invitational on Friday the 13th. The match was a constant back-and-forth, with both teams trading momentum until CU finally secured the win.
The Buffs got off to a shaky start in the first set, plagued by attack errors and a negative hitting percentage, which allowed the Anteaters to open up a seven-point advantage. Despite these struggles, CU managed to rally and stay competitive throughout the set, though UC Irvine ultimately took it 25-21.
CU bounced back in the second set, jumping out to an early 5-0 lead thanks to strong blocking efforts from Cayla Payne, Sydney Jordan and Taylor Simpson. A powerful kill from Lily Dwinell sealed the set at 25-17, leveling the match.
In the third set, the Anteaters responded with renewed determination. Despite an ace from Rian Finley and key kills by Jordan, the Buffs couldn’t keep pace, with UC Irvine maintaining several leads before closing out the set 25-19.
The fourth set was a nail-biter, marked by continuous back-and-forth action. CU briefly held a 5-0 lead, but both teams exchanged points in rapid succession, making it anyone’s game. A clutch kill by Ana Burilović allowed the Buffs to take the set 25-20 and force a decisive fifth set.
The final set saw both teams battling fiercely all the way to match point. As the crowd began celebrating an apparent CU victory, UC Irvine challenged the final play, leading to an intense replay. Ultimately, the Buffs emerged victorious with a 15-13 win, securing the match.
Statistically, both teams were evenly matched. UC Irvine finished with 62 kills and 77 digs, while CU posted 60 kills and 72 digs.
Standout performances for the Buffs included Ana Burilović, who tallied 13 kills and 50 attacks, and Cayla Payne, who led the team with 14 kills.
The Buffaloes will face the Wyoming Cowgirls (6-2) in the final match of the Buffs Invitational on Sunday at 6 p.m. MT at the CU Events Center. Fans can watch the game on ESPN+.
Cover photo by Brody Rector/Sko Buffs Sports
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