MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University volleyball team (8-11, 2-6 Big 12) took down the Buffaloes, 3-1 on Wednesday night inside of the CU Events Center in Boulder, Colorado. The match marked the first meeting between Colorado and West Virginia.
The Mountaineers secured the win with scores of 25-20, 23-25, 25-17 and 25-17.
WVU was led offensively by senior outside hitter
Hailey Green, who tallied 21 kills while hitting .381 percent. Redshirt junior outside hitter
Cassidy Tanton had yet another outstanding performance, adding her 10
th double-double of the season with 15 kills and 11 digs. Tanton also tied a season high with three total blocks.
Sophomore middle blocker
Maddy McGath was electric on all fronts, totaling 10 kills on a .625 clip while dropping down five total blocks.
Graduate student setter
Lauren DeLo added the second double-double of the night, dishing 42 assists and 14 digs. Defensively, graduate student libero
Sydney Reed and junior outside hitter
Quincey Coyle collected 11 and 12 digs, respectively.
In all, the Mountaineers bested Colorado with 58 kills and 57 digs. The squad also produced 11 service aces, setting the program's record for most aces in a Big 12 match.
Tanton tied up the first set early with a kill, making the score one all. West Virginia proceeded with their first scoring run of the night, 4-0, making the score, 7-5. After an ace from Coyle, WVU led by as many as six points, 15-9. West Virginia controlled the rest of the set, using a late 3-0 run to hold of CU, 22-15. As Colorado attempted an offensive drive, before a block from McGath and Tanton would give WVU set one, 25-20.
A kill from DeLo would kick off set two, 1-0 for the Mountaineers. Colorado looked to respond, holding the lead until six straight West Virginia points tied the score at 17. It was a tight race for the set, as a pair of kills from McGath and Tanton would get WVU within one point, 24-23. Colorado persisted, taking the second set, 25-23.
West Virginia looked to lock down in the third set, as a pair of aces from Tanton let the Mountaineers lead early, 2-0. As Colorado attempted to take over, freshman outsider hitter
Nina Svetina pushed the Mountaineers back on top with a pair of kills, 7-6. WVU never trailed again in the set, leading by four after two kills from Tanton, 13-9. The Mountaineers steamed ahead, using six straight points to take third set, 25-17.
The fourth and final set started off hot again for West Virginia, as a pair of kills from Green gave the Mountaineers an early 3-1 advantage. WVU dominated the set, as a 4-0 run would extend their lead,15-10 forcing a Colorado timeout. Green and Tanton chipped in a plethora of kills, as West Virginia led 24-17 at the match point. A block from McGath and junior middle blocker
Laila Ibrahim secured the fourth and final set, 25-17 for West Virginia.
Next, WVU returns to Morgantown to face Texas Tech on Oct. 26. First serve is slated for noon ET, inside of the WVU Coliseum. Saturday's match will serve as the team's Halloween Spooktacular, with kids 12 and under in costume receiving free admission. The WVU Coliseum concourse will feature inflatables, balloon artists, face painting and candy bags. Fans are encouraged to stick around after the match for post-game autographs at the Gold Gate.
For more information on the Mountaineers, follow @WVUVolleyball on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.