Denton, Texas – The Colorado women’s volleyball team started their season at the North Texas Invitational, which saw them facing off against North Texas, Miami (FL) and Rutgers.
The tournament not only resulted in a 2-1 record for CU but also saw both Cayla Payne and Ana Burilović being named members of the All-Tournament Team.
A sophomore middle blocker, Payne continues to make a difference in her second year. She led the CU team with 14 blocks. Payne also had four digs to go along with all of her blocks. She contributed offensively with 22 kills and was responsible for 31 points. Payne’s duality at the net made her a clear choice for the All-Tournament selection.
The future could not be brighter for Payne as this achievement is another added to her already decorated career. Payne was selected to the 2023 Pac-12 All-Freshman Team as well as the 2023 Pac-12 All-Academic Honor Roll. On top of that, she set a new personal high for kills, points and digs in a game against North Texas last Friday, Aug. 30. Then on Sunday, Sept. 1, against Rutgers, she set a personal high of blocks in a game with nine.
Ana Burilović, a sophomore outside hitter, led the offense for CU in its first games. The tournament resulted in 41 kills for Burilović as she led the tournament in kills while earning a .319 hit rate. She also showed out defensively with 23 digs and a block. This superb offensive showing and great save ability made her All-Tournament selection unsurprising and greatly deserved.
Based on these first few games, it’s looking like Burilović has taken the leap and improved on her freshman year, where she also made the 2023 Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll. In the 2023 season, she had 95 kills. It’s only taken her three games to get to 41 kills in 2024. She set a new personal game-high kills this season against North Texas with 20. The 23 digs she’s accumulated in 2024 is almost a fifth of her total digs from 2023.
Payne and Burilović being named to the North Texas All-Tournament Team is early proof that these two sophomores have only gotten better for their second season and are ready to make an impact this season. Many expect to see them all season long making plays as they both have the ability to lead the team offensively and defensively.
Cover photo by CU Athletics/CUBuffs.com
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