Buffs Fall 3-1 to Owls, Finish Rice Invite 2-1

HOUSTON — The University of Colorado fell short of a comeback, falling 3-1 (25-23, 25-17, 19-25, 25-21) to Rice University to finish the Rice Adidas Invitational. The Buffs won their first two matches over Sam Houston State and Louisiana-Lafayette before meeting the Owls on Saturday night.

“Credit to a fiery Rice squad who was tough on their home floor tonight,” head coach Liz Kritza said. “We had our looks, but just did not play efficiently enough to put consistent pressure on the other team tonight.”

Colorado battled back to win the third set after losing the first two sets. CU had the lead in the fourth frame, but was unable to hang on late in the set as the Owls took the set and the match. The loss puts the Buffs at 4-4, while Rice improves to 8-2 on the year.

Once again, CU was led by senior Alexis Austin, a Houston native, who recorded 17 kills in the effort. She also hit well at .314 with six errors on 35 attacks. Sophomore Anna Pfefferle was second on the team with 13 kills and hit a team-best .478 with only two errors on 23 swings. Another sophomore, Gabby Simpson, tallied 11 kills.

“We are having some strong individual performances, but must strike a better balance between being aggressive and efficient in our play,” Kritza said.

Austin, Simpson and junior Katelyn Cuff were awarded spots on the all-tournament teams for their performances this weekend. Austin recorded 45 kills and hit .320 while adding 14 digs and five blocks in the three matches. Simpson tied her career-high with 14 kills on Friday against Sam Houston State. For the three matches, she recorded 35 kills, four aces, 16 digs and six blocks. Cuff has been the epitome of team first versatility. She had 16 kills, six digs and 10 blocks, while hitting .244.

The Buffs out-hit the Owls .246-.235 under senior Nicole Edelman's direction. She handed out a season-best 47 assists and added three kills of her own. Colorado recorded 54 total kills, while RU had 50.

Junior Cierra Simpson led CU's defense with 17 digs, while Edelman added another nine. Gabby Simpson and Austin also got into the action with six digs apiece. Edelman led the Buffs at the net with four block assists and Pfefferle, Austin and freshman Naghede Abu each posted three blocks.

“There is a consistency that comes with experience as the season goes on, but with the veterans and returning players on the floor, I expect a lot more from this group,” Kritza said. “More importantly, they expect it from themselves.”

Rice was led by Leah Mikesky, who recorded 15 kills. Chelsey Harris added 12 kills in the win and McKay Kyle led the match with five blocks.  

The Buffs were down 14-9 in the first set when Kritza took a timeout. The team was able to regroup and took the next five straight points to even the set at 14-14. The two sides went back and forth until RU had a two-point lead at 23-21, forcing the Buffs to take their second timeout of the set. The Buffs got back within a point (24-23) after kills from Cuff and Pfefferle, but RU finished the set with a kill after a quick timeout.

The second set was close until the Owls recorded a 5-0 run to go up 11-6. CU struggled to maintain serve and Rice increased its lead to 17-10, forcing the Buffs to take a timeout. Austin tallied a kill out of the break, but RU sided-out on the next point. The Owls went on to take the frame 25-17.

The Buffs went up 7-6 in the third set and increased their lead to 14-10, causing RU to take a timeout. CU kept its attack going and pulled ahead by six points (19-13), forcing the Owls to use another timeout. The Buffs got to set point (24-17) after a kill from Cuff, but RU tallied two straight points, which made Kritza take a timeout. It worked and the Buffs finished the set (25-19) with a kill from Gabby Simpson.

CU had a 9-6 advantage in the fourth set and increased it to 16-11 before the Owls recorded a pair of points to get back within three (16-13). RU came back to even the frame at 17-17 and went ahead on the following point. RU had a two-point lead at 22-20 when the Buffs used their final timeout of the set. CU took the next point off a kill from Pfefferle, but the Owls finished the match with the next three points (25-21).

Earlier in the day, the Buffs swept Louisiana Lafayette (25-15, 25-21, 25-23). Austin led the Buffs with 16 kills, while Gabby Simpson added 10. Edelman handed out 32 of CU's 40 assists, directing the Buffs to a .274 hitting percentage. She also led the Buffs with 16 digs. Pfefferle, Cuff and Abu each posted three blocks for the Buffs in the win.

The Buffs had a fairly easy time in the first two sets, but ULL put up a better fight in the third. CU had a 15-11 lead when ULL came back to even the set at 17-17. The Ragin Cajuns went ahead on the next point and had a 21-18 lead, forcing the Buffs to dig deep to avoid a fourth set.

CU rallied back to tie the frame at 22-22 with a 4-1 run that included three kills from Austin. The Buffs went on to take the following point with a block by Gabby Simpson and Pfefferle. A ULL attack error gave CU set point and after a kill by Keely Hayes (ULL), the Buffs finished the set with another kill from Austin.

The Buffs return home to the Coors Events Center next weekend for the Omni Invitational, Sept. 18 and 20.   

“We have a big week ahead of us as we prepare to head into league play soon, and I am confident in this group that we will put in the work to be ready for success,” Kritza said.