The Colorado Buffaloes (9-3) beat the Utah Utes (5-6) on Thursday night in Boulder. After starting out strong and taking the first two sets (25-15, 25-19) with relative ease with a combined point differential of 16 points, the Buffs dropped a nail biting third set to the Utes by a score of 28-30. It appeared as if that set would never end after trading points with every serve. Colorado entered the +25 point territory with a one point lead but could never manage to score that set winning point and gave the set to the Utes.
The beginning of the fourth set was similarly difficult for the Buffs, who appeared rattled after giving up a potential sweep. They dropped to a deficit as large as five points in this set before rallying back to eventually take their first lead of the set at 18-17, displaying the talent and determination that had gotten them to a 9-2 record prior to the game. They eventually won the set 25-19.
Senior outside hitter Maya Tabron dominated the court with 19.5 points, making multiple highlight plays throughout the night which she attributed to “the adrenaline pushing me” after the match.
Defensively, middle blocker Skyy Howard led the team with six total blocks but also tallied on 11 points of her own as she anchored the Buffs defense while they fought their way through the early fourth set deficit to win the set and match.
After the game, Colorado Coach Jesse Mahoney said of the third set collapse “It’s a little bit of human nature”, adding that “next time we’re up 2-0, we’ll talk about this match.”
The Buffaloes volleyball team returns to action at the CU Events Center this Sunday at 12 PM to take on the Stanford Cardinal (8-2).
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