University of Denver
2-1,0-0WCC
Colorado
3-0,0-0Big 12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver | 19 | 21 | 22 | 0 |
| Colorado | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Game Leaders
Pioneers Fall to Buffaloes in Buffs Classic Finale
8/30/2026 4:28:00 PM | Volleyball
BOULDER, Colo. – The University of Denver volleyball program fell to the Colorado Buffaloes in three sets (19-25, 21-25, 22-25) on Sunday afternoon inside the CU Events Center. The Pioneers finished the Buffs Classic with a 2-1 record.
LEADERS
Jamia Johnson paced the Pioneers with nine kills, while Alicia Thibodeau added eight. Elise Hart and Kayla Patel each contributed five kills, with Hart hitting .556. Ilayda Eren led Denver with 16 assists, while Madison Winkler posted nine digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE
Patel opened the match with a kill to give the Pioneers an early 1-0 lead before Colorado answered with a kill of its own to tie the set at 1-1. The teams traded points throughout the early stages, battling through ties at 3-3, 5-5, 6-6, 7-7 and 8-8 before the Buffaloes used a 7-1 run, fueled by multiple Denver attack errors, to take a 15-9 advantage. The Pioneers responded with a kill from Izabela Molina and a Colorado attack error to cut the deficit to four at 15-11. Johnson added two kills in a short span, but the Buffaloes maintained their lead at 19-14. Denver continued to battle with late kills from Patel and Thibodeau, but Colorado held on to take the opening set, 25-19.
SET TWO
Denver came out strong in the second set, opening with a 4-0 run highlighted by kills from Hart and Johnson. The Buffaloes responded with a 5-1 run to even the score at 5-5. The teams continued to trade points and the lead before the Pioneers used a 4-1 run, including kills from Hailey Goebel and Thibodeau, to take a 10-7 advantage. Colorado answered with a 4-0 run to regain the lead at 12-11, and the teams continued to battle back and forth. The Buffaloes later used a 5-1 run to build a 20-15 lead, but Denver continued to fight with kills from Patel, Johnson, Thibodeau and Romi Chlebecek, cutting the deficit to one at 22-21. Colorado ultimately closed out the set with a 4-0 run to take the second set, 25-21.
SET THREE
Both teams came out strong in the third set, trading points early with Patel recording Denver's first point on a kill to make it 1-1. The teams continued to battle through several ties before the Pioneers used a 5-1 run, highlighted by kills from Johnson and Patel, to take a 16-13 lead. Colorado responded with a 4-0 run to regain the advantage at 17-16. Denver continued to fight, pulling within one at 20-19 behind kills from Goebel and Thibodeau. The Pioneers battled until the end, but the Buffaloes ultimately secured the set, 25-22.
NOTES
Sunday marked the final match of the Buffs Classic.
Denver finished the weekend with a 2-1 record.
The Pioneers recorded 39 kills, 36 assists and 39 digs.
Denver recorded seven total blocks, including 12 block assists.
Elise Hart hit .556 with five kills on nine attacks and no errors.
UP NEXT
Denver will host the Denver Invitational at Magness Arena beginning Thursday, September 3, with a 6 p.m. MT match against SIUE.
Ticket Information:
Tickets for the 2026 volleyball season are on sale now, and can be purchased here.
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