Colorado Buffs Volleyball 2024

[JJVb]

cubuffs.com/sports/womens-volleyball

Buffs 2024 roster:

Pins:

Jahara Campbell, RS-Jr

Kendall Meller, RS-So

Sydney Jordan, So

Ana Burilović, So

Annelise Rising, RS-Fr

Lily Dwinell (Opp), So

Gwenyth Schiffm (OPP), Fr (Prime Time VBC)

Middles:
Bella Simkus, RS-Jr

Carla Payne, So

Maria Spławska, Fr International (Poland)
Tatum Johnson, Fr (Momentous)

Setters:
Taylor Simpson, Sr

Rian Finley, RS-So

Katie Salonga (also DS), Fr (NorCal)

L/DS:

Sarah Morton, Jr (Tr from Auburn)

Emma Torstenson, RS-Jr

Emilea Stepaniuk, RS-Jr

Avery Bolles, So

Emma DeSensi, RS-So

2025 Commits:

Audrey Asleson - University of Colorado - Setter (Sports Performance)
Olivia Grenadier - University of Colorado - MB (Legacy)
Nikki Ott - University of Colorado - Libero/DS (VCNebraska)

2026 commits:
Dumebi Okoye - OH/MB (International: Canada)

[JJVb]

Welcome to Colorado!

[JJVb]

Nov 11, 2021 1:07:52 GMT -5 JJVb said:

Welcome to Colorado!

Anyone know much on either of these two players? Buffs could really use another solid OH.

[zzyzx]

Rian Finley is a 6' S/RS out of Reno, played for Northern Nevada Juniors (NNJ) 17s last season.

[AmeriCanVBfan]

It's always easy to lament the ones that get away but Alexis Stuckey would have been a great add to the program.

[JJVb]

Looks like Simpson is next in line to take the setting spot. Looks like they will retain the majority of their starters, though they will need to develop stronger weapons on the pins for next year.

[JJVb]

Congrats players. Well played this year!

[JJVb]

May be in the starting line up at COL. Good get COL.

[stull90210]

Jan 19, 2022 23:28:24 GMT -5 JJVb said:

May be in the starting line up at COL. Good get COL.

This is a good get, she has a cannon of an arm but could never get used to the inconsistent setting carousel + she doesn’t pass in SR. Her 2019 year was great and I thought she complimented May really well on the right side

[JJVb]

[JJVb]

Any COL fans attend these scrimmages and have any reviews/feedback?

[aztecbuff]

With the season looming, starting with tomorrow's Black and Gold Scrimmage (scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM MT at the CU Events Center), figured I'd bump this  thread.

Note- I have NO technical knowledge of volleyball, and am just a long-time volleyball (and general sports) fan, so wouldn't dare to make any qualitative judgements about this year's team.
 
Go Buffs!
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A couple main links:

2022 roster - cubuffs.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/2022?&sort=class

2022 schedule - cubuffs.com/sports/womens-volleyball/schedule/2022
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Player Notes:

1) The Buff experience level is being greatly buttressed this season by the decisions of S/L Brynna DeLuzio and MB Meegan Hart to come back for their 6th years of college ball. (Both have had injury-caused red-shirt years which, in addition to everyone's Covid-19 year, allows for them to come back for year 6.)
One of my main questions during the off-season has been where Ms. DeLuzio might end up playing.  From pretty much everything I've read, it sounds like the 1st option for Ms. DeLuzio is to have her compete for the/ a*** starting setter job this season.  (The latest interview I could find (https://www.buffzone.com/2022/08/09/sixth-and-final-opening-practice-in-the-books-for-cu-buffs-volleyballs-brynna-deluzio/) says she's ready to play where ever it will help the team win the most matches.)

2) The Buffs only roster losses were 3 seniors from last season. Based on playing time, the main one is last year starting S Jenna Ewart, who chose to transfer and use her extra Covid-19 year at the U. of Texas. The other 2 seniors from last season who moved on were DS/ L Taylor deProsse, who played in 3 matches last season, and OH/DS Zoe Neverdowski, who played in 17, I believe almost all as a DS. (Best wishes to all 3 in all their future endeavors!)

3) Additions for this season:

• 3 freshmen - 5'6" DS/L Emma Desensi, 6'0" S Rian Finley (who was an early admit, so has been in Boulder since January), and 6'2" OH Kendall Meller.  (Per the scrimmage preview article linked to in the below tweet, the current plans are for all 3 to redshirt this season.)
• 1 transfer - 6'1" OH Lexi Hadrych, who spent her 1st few seasons at UCLA.  (The article linked to below says that (although shown as a grad student in the roster) she has 2 years of eligibility remaining.)
•  Not an addition to the roster, but potentially the biggest plus for this season will be if senior RS (probably) / MB Sterling Parker can come back strong from the shoulder injury that caused her to miss all of last season after being operated on, and from what I've read, also greatly impacted her sophomore (2020) season.  (She earned a spot on the Pac 12 All-Freshman team, and was named a volleyballmag.com freshman All-American, after the 2019 season.)

(***Assuming they feel comfortable with both setters set to play this year, it will be interesting to see if the coaches might at minimum toy with a 6-2, as the Buffs have 5 OH's and/ or RS's who've already started quite a bit in their collegiate careers (sophomore Campbell, junior Tabron, and seniors (I assume all with a least 2 years of eligibility left if they and the coaches desire it) Parker, Schneggenburger and Hadrych), and another OH (senior Levaggi) who I'm sure is also competing hard for playing time.)

[JJVb]

COL starts the weekend off 2-0. Didn't see Parker play, but COL coach said this after the two games about her,

"Sterling has been cleared, and I think she's ready to go. Her shoulder is not totally where you want it to be. Will we see her this weekend? I hope so. I was hoping to get her in that match. I'm hoping to get her in the next one. Again, just to get her feet wet a little bit. She is now light years ahead of where she was a month ago, and we're going to bring her along the right way so, when she's ready to go, she can get out there."

It also seems that DeLuzio has let go of the libero position, and is solely focusing on wanting to set only; however, Simpson beat her out at this point.

[bucky415]

Aug 27, 2022 0:40:21 GMT -5 JJVb said:

COL starts the weekend off 2-0. Didn't see Parker play, but COL coach said this after the two games about her,

"Sterling has been cleared, and I think she's ready to go. Her shoulder is not totally where you want it to be. Will we see her this weekend? I hope so. I was hoping to get her in that match. I'm hoping to get her in the next one. Again, just to get her feet wet a little bit. She is now light years ahead of where she was a month ago, and we're going to bring her along the right way so, when she's ready to go, she can get out there."

It also seems that DeLuzio has let go of the libero position, and is solely focusing on wanting to set only; however, Simpson beat her out at this point.

I hope they can get by Denver, then, drat for Wisconsin RPI, beat Iowa (I think Brown got a too quick hook), and then see if they can beat the Illini in Boulder (Nebraska did not always fare great there, and the Illini are not Nebraska!).

[volleyball303]

Aug 27, 2022 0:40:21 GMT -5 JJVb said:

COL starts the weekend off 2-0. Didn't see Parker play, but COL coach said this after the two games about her,

"Sterling has been cleared, and I think she's ready to go. Her shoulder is not totally where you want it to be. Will we see her this weekend? I hope so. I was hoping to get her in that match. I'm hoping to get her in the next one. Again, just to get her feet wet a little bit. She is now light years ahead of where she was a month ago, and we're going to bring her along the right way so, when she's ready to go, she can get out there."

It also seems that DeLuzio has let go of the libero position, and is solely focusing on wanting to set only; however, Simpson beat her out at this point.

I don’t understand why she is not the libero. She is the best libero on the team by miles and Simpson looked great at setter. Simpson had been Colorados best player besides Hart.