Buffs Start Spring Competition Schedule
BOULDER - After a few weeks of full team practices, the University of Colorado volleyball team is set to start its spring competition schedule this week.
CU will host Colorado State on Thursday, April 2, at 6 p.m. in the main gym at the Coors Events Center, before heading north to Greeley, Colo. for a 16-team tournament at Northern Colorado on Saturday, April 4. The Buffs will also host a kids clinic from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday prior to the match against CSU. Both the clinic and scrimmage are free and open to the public.
"Spring competition is an important part of the offseason training and one of the various ways to ensure individual players are developing as well as advancing the team's overall level of play," head coach Liz Kritza said. "Seeing different types of teams this spring, as well as expanding roles and advancing what each player can do on the court, is part of getting better. This group is working hard and is excited to be preparing for another successful season."
The Buffs will also host Northern Colorado for another scrimmage on April 16 at the CEC before heading to Colby, Kan. for a scrimmage against Wichita State.
CU has spent the last few weeks in full team practices, but prior to that the Buffs conducted individual and small-group workouts, and trained with Chris Sheckler, the team's strength and conditioning coach. The Buffs are limited to 20 hours of organized team activity per week during the spring per the NCAA, which includes practices, scrimmages and time in the weight room.
CU finished the 2014 season ranked 21st in the AVCA Division I Coaches Poll after compiling a 20-14 overall record. The Buffs tied for fourth in the Pac-12 Conference (11-9) and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season. CU also tallied five wins against ranked opponents, including three on the road and were ranked as high as 19th.
The Buffs return nine letterwinners from the 2014 season, including five starters plus the libero. The Buffs will add five freshman, including Aiden Lea who joined the team in January. One of CU's biggest losses from 2014 is Taylor Simpson, who will graduate from CU this May. Simpson became CU's first ever AVCA First Team All-American and was named the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame 2014 "College Female Athlete of the Year." She broke numerous CU records during the season, including the single season kills record with 591 which included a career high 32 kills against CSU in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. After a professional stint in the Puerto Rican Superior League, Simpson is headed to Anaheim to train full-time with the USA National Team.