Arizona women’s volleyball opened Big 12 play in Boulder on Sunday with a chance to make a statement. The Wildcats surged to a 2‑1 lead before Colorado rallied to win the match 3‑2 (25‑20, 20‑25, 20‑25, 25‑22, 15‑6).
Key moments
Arizona started strong, taking the first set 25‑20. The Buffs answered in the second, but the Wildcats responded with a dominant 25‑20 third set and built a 25‑22 lead in the fourth. A surge of aces by Colorado’s Jenna Ylivainio and Ana Burilovic turned the tide, giving CU nine aces overall, more than half of their total for the match.
Coach Rita Stubbs noted the frustration of the unforced aces, saying, “We weren’t ready to make a play on those serves, and that cost us.” She also pointed to Colorado’s adjustment of playing Sydney Jordan in the back row, which added a new offensive option for the Buffs.
Statistical highlights
Arizona’s pin hitters delivered solid numbers. Carlie Cisneros led with 18 kills, four aces and a block for a team‑high 22.5 points, plus 10 digs for a double‑double. Destiny Ndam‑Simpson contributed 16 kills on .308 hitting and 14 digs, also a double‑double.
Setter/right‑side changes proved effective. Renee Jones (opposite) posted five kills on .250 hitting and four total blocks. Harmony Sample recorded 23 assists and an ace, earning a double‑double. Kennedy Osunsanmi, coming off the bench, added 13 kills on .545 hitting, three digs and a block.
The middle block was the Wildcats’ weak spot. The three middle players combined for just 11 kills on .185 hitting and were set only 27 times out of 163 attempts. Freshman Marina Vosloo, filling in for Kristen Dear, posted six kills on .333 hitting, three blocks, an ace and two digs.
Implications for the season
Colorado, ranked No. 21 and sitting in the mid‑40s of the unofficial RPI, proved a quality opponent. Even in defeat, Arizona’s RPI improved by 20 spots, positioning the team closer to the top 100 once the official RPI is released next week.
Stubbs emphasized the learning opportunity: “We need to get the ball into different hands at different times to be a competitive team.” The Wildcats will return home next week to face Iowa State and Texas Tech before resuming road travel.
Looking ahead
The loss underscores areas for growth—particularly serving consistency and middle‑block involvement—but the overall performance against a top‑tier conference foe signals progress. Arizona remains in contention for a Big 12 tournament berth if it can translate these lessons into wins against the remaining conference schedule.
Original reporting: Arizona Desert Swarm (Tucson Sports) — read the source article.
