Head coach Jesse Mahoney knew all the rotation spots could be set in ink for years to come when the freshman class of 2023 arrived in Boulder.
Read more Speaker Johnson recesses the House early as Rep. Thomas Massie pushes Hegseth impeachment
Simply checking off spots in a lineup, though, doesn’t guarantee a single win. Even with talent aplenty and time to develop, a fractured leadership class rarely provides true leadership at all.
That hasn’t been a problem for the Colorado volleyball team. Once again sparked by a standout group of fourth-year players, CU will take aim at matching the program’s longest unbeaten start when the Buffaloes host Colorado State on Thursday night (7 p.m., ESPN+), in the first game of a home-and-home series. The rivals play again Friday night in Fort Collins.
That core group of veterans — Avery Bolles, Ana Burilovic, Lily Dwinell, Sydney Jordan and Cayla Payne — aren’t the only players contributing in key roles for the Buffs, who moved up six spots to No. 17 in this week’s American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25. But a second consecutive hot start to the season has proven yet again that the group is ready to make a run in the Big 12.
“It’s hard to keep a group around for four years without some fracturing or some transferring. We’ve been able to do that,” Mahoney said. “I think that’s a testament to Boulder in general and this school and this community. I think they enjoy spending time together. We recruited very good players and better people. Good people recruit good people to your group, and they’ve done that for sure. I’m very lucky that we’ve had this group together for four years.”
Sticking together throughout the advent of the transfer portal era has been a testament to the culture of the CU program, but it also has been a product of the group’s shared friendship off the floor. Payne and Dwinell both are from Southern California and were club teammates during high school. Jordan is from Texas. Bolles is from Minnesota and Burilovic is from Croatia. Yet the bond was established quickly in 2023.
Read more Lakewood man killed in shooting at Green Mountain home, police investigating self-defense
“When we came in, everyone liked each other. Everyone got along,” Payne said. “Now we all live together. We all eat dinner together or just do things outside together. I feel like we have a really good community in our house. The other girls just live four streets down and are always coming over. It’s just a very tight-knit kind of team, and I don’t feel like every team is like that. You maybe have one kind of clique. We’re not super clique-y. We all really enjoy each other’s company, and that’s a big thing that goes on the court, too. You’re playing next to girls you know you trust.”
The Colorado State series marks the finale of nonconference play for the Buffs, who improved to 8-0 with a four-set win at then-No. 16 USC last week. CU has put together two 9-0 starts — last year, and in 2021 — and last year’s unbeaten run was halted by a two-game sweep for the Rams.
Despite their varied backgrounds, the fourth-year Buffs have embraced the state rivalry against CSU. And even though the group helped lead CU to the NCAA Tournament last season, there remains one important career milestone to overcome.
The group has never won a home match against CSU, going 0-3 at the Events Center since 2023.
“Kind of learning how big this rivalry is and how much it means to the school, it’s definitely gotten more and more important as the years have gone on,” Dwinell said. “I think we’ve had a really good start, and that’s super-exciting to see. But it also doesn’t mean that’s our peak potential. I think we still have a lot to do.”
Read more Missing Adams County girl with disabilities found safe
