Buffs Blank Red Raiders
LUBBOCK, Texas ? Becah Fogle recorded a match-high 14 kills to lead the University of Colorado volleyball team past Texas Tech in three sets on Saturday afternoon at United Spirit Arena (25-21, 25-23, 25-18).
“Tonight’s offensive performance was much closer to the results that this system should produce,” Colorado Head Coach Liz Kritza said. “(Kaitlyn) Burkett was able to distribute the ball more evenly on both pins and thus giving her hitters better opportunities to score.”
The win snaps a seven-match losing streak for the Buffs as they improve to 7-17 overall record and 2-13 in the Big 12. The Red Raiders, who have only won a single set during the Big 12 season, fell to 2-20 overall and are 0-13 in league action. The win was the second road victory for the Buffs this season and the first in Big 12 action since October 8, 2008, which was also a victory against TTU.
Rosie Steinhaus recorded 12 kills in the win and hit a team-best .429 with only three errors on 21 swings. Kerra Schroeder also recorded double-digit kills with 10.
“Rosie had a very good hitting efficiency tonight and really shouldered more of the offensive load, which is something that she had been working on in the last few matches, so it is nice to see her transfer that to this competition,” Kritza said.
Kaitlyn Burkett recorded 40 assists in the win to help direct the Buffs to a season-best .313 attack percentage with 46 kills and 15 errors on 99 attacks. It was just the second time this season CU has recorded a hitting percentage above .300; the other time was the season opener against Valparaiso (August 28) at the Campus USA Credit Union Invitational in Gainesville, Fla.
Fogle led the Buffs defensively as well as offensively. She earned her seventh double-double of the season with a match and career-high 15 digs.
“Becah had a very balanced performance on both sides of the ball tonight and we will need that as we continue into some very tough conference matches coming up,” Kritza explained.
The Buffs held the Red Raiders to just .167 with 37 kills and 20 errors on 102 swings. Amanda Dowdy was the top attacker for Tech with 12 kills. Jackie Vincent recorded a team-high 10 digs.
After being down for most of the first set, Colorado put together a 4-0 run to go up 22-20. The run include three CU kills, as well as an attack error by Tech. The Buffs finished out the set with a 3-1 run (25-21). CU hit .357 in the set with 14 kills and just four errors on 28 swings. The Red Raiders were held to a .167 attack percentage with 13 kills and seven errors on 36 tries.
The second set was close again until the Buffs put together a 4-0 run to take a four-point lead at 19-15. TTU used its own 5-1 run to tie the frame up at 20. Colorado took four of the next six points to take a two-point lead (24-22). The Red Raiders fought off the first set point, but were not able to stop Edelman the following point as she hammered the ball down to the court, finishing the set 25-23. CU hit .243 in the set and held TTU to .162.
Once again the third set started off very close until CU took control by stringing together a 6-1 run to take a 19-14 lead. The Buffs didn’t let up and finished the set, and the match, 25-18. CU hit .353 and once again held TTU below .200 with a .172 attack percentage.
“This match was important for us because we have struggled at times this season with being able to put complete sets together with high level plays and we really needed to have a good performance today, as much for our team confidence as for our overall development,” Kritza said.
The Buffs stay on the road for a match against No. 22 Baylor on Wednesday, November 11, in Waco, Texas. The match is set for a 6 p.m. (MST) start.
“The next step we need to make as a team is to use this positive as a springboard to more improvements which will spur even greater success for us,” Kritza explained. “That is our goal and we are determined to meet it.”
Don’t forget to check out the latest news and highlights with head coach Liz Kritza on the Buffalo Stampede: Volleyball Edition, exclusively on BuffsTV at www.cubuffs.com/volleyball. New shows air every Tuesday.
-COLORADO-
COLORADO HEAD COACH LIZ KRITZA
“Tonight’s offensive performance was much closer to the results that this offensive should produce. Burkett was able to distribute the ball more evenly on both pins and thus giving her hitters in better opportunities to score.”
“Rosie had a very good hitting efficiency tonight and really shouldered more of the offensive load, which is something that she had been working on in the last few matches, so it is nice to see her transfer that to this competition.”
“Becah had very balanced performance on both sides of the ball tonight and we will need that as we continue into some very tough conference matches coming up.”
“This match was important for us because we have struggled at times this season with being able to put complete sets together with high level plays and we really needed to have a good performance today, as much for our team confidence as for our overall development.”
“The next step we need to make as a team is to use this positive as a springboard to more improvements which will spur even greater success for us. That is our goal and we are determined to meet it.”