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The Colorado Buffaloes upset the 12th-seeded Baylor Bears in straight sets (25-12, 25-22, 25-20) Saturday in Waco, Texas to advance to the third round of the NCAA Women’s Volleyball championship for the first time in 20 years.
Freshman setter-libero Brynna Deluzio sparked the Buffs with 38 assists, while juniors Alexa Smith (14 kills), Naghede Abu (8 blocks) and Frankie Shebby (14 digs) led Jesse Mahoney’s squad in kills, blocks and digs. With the victory, Colorado improved to 24-9 on the season. Their 24 wins are the most since 1991 and third most in program history.
Sweet 16 here we come! Buffs will continue dancing into the second weekend of #NCAAVB for the first time in two decades! #GoBuffs#NCAAVB pic.twitter.com/NdBjZ6Mm6J
— Colorado Volleyball (@CUBuffsVB) December 3, 2017
Colorado last reached the Sweet 16 in 1997, when the Buffs fell to eventual NCAA Champion Stanford. Waiting for them this time will be a team the Buffs are all too familiar with, the 5th seeded Nebraska Cornhuskers. Defeating Nebraska will be no easy task. The Buffs are 7-49 all-time against the four-time NCAA Champion Cornhuskers (1995, 2000, ’06 & ’15), with their last win coming on October 29, 2008.
If Jesse Mahoney and company need a little inspiration prior to taking on the Cornhuskers, might I suggest watching this gem from 2001. Go Buffs!