Colorado Buffaloes women's volleyball

Colorado Buffaloes women's volleyball
Founded1986; 39 years ago (1986)
UniversityUniversity of Colorado Boulder
Athletic directorRick George
Head coachJesse Mahoney (8th season)
ConferenceBig 12
LocationBoulder, Colorado
Home arenaCU Events Center (capacity: 11,064)
NicknameBuffaloes
ColorsSilver, black, and gold[1]
     
AIAW/NCAA regional semifinal
1993, 1994, 1997, 2017
AIAW/NCAA Tournament appearance
1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2022
Conference tournament champion
1992, 1993
Conference regular season champion
1993

The Colorado Buffaloes volleyball team is the intercollegiate women's volleyball team of the University of Colorado Boulder. They compete in the Big 12 Conference and play their home games at the CU Events Center.

History

The volleyball program at the University of Colorado began in 1986. The Buffaloes' first head coach was Brad Saindon who was replaced by Mike McLean after three seasons. In McLean's first season, Colorado made its first NCAA tournament appearance. Partway through the 1990 season, Saindon returned as Colorado's head coach.[2] In his second tenure, Saindon led the Buffaloes to two Big Eight championships, two in the tournament and one in the regular season; six NCAA tournament and two semifinal appearances.[3]

Pi'i Aiu took over as head coach starting in 1997. He became the winningest volleyball coach at Colorado, leading the Buffaloes to a 22–9 record and a semifinal appearance in the NCAA tournament.[4] The Buffaloes made nine NCAA tournament appearances during his tenure. Aiu was dismissed as Colorado's head coach on January 12, 2009, following two straight losing seasons.[5]

Following Aiu's dismissal, Liz Kritza was hired to become the head coach of the Buffaloes. She led Colorado to two NCAA tournament appearances. Despite the Buffaloes' record of 57–41 in her last three seasons, Kritza was dismissed after the conclusion of the 2015 season.[6]

Jesse Mahoney became the head coach of the Buffaloes on December 17, 2015. As of the 2022 season, he has led Colorado to another semifinal appearance and three NCAA tournament appearances.[7]

Head coaches

  • Brad Saindon (1986–1988, 1990–1996)
  • Mike McLean (1989–1990)
  • Pi'i Aiu (1997–2008)
  • Liz Kritza (2009–2015)
  • Jesse Mahoney (2016–present)

Season-by-season results

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Brad Saindon (Big Eight Conference) (1986–1988)
1986 Brad Saindon 6–18 0–5
1987 Brad Saindon 9–20 3–9 T–5th
1988 Brad Saindon 22–13 8–4 3rd
Brad Saindon: 37–51 (.420) 11–18 (.379)
Mike McLean (Big Eight Conference) (1989–1990)
1989 Mike McLean 22–11 10–2 2nd NCAA First Round
1990[a] Mike McLean 8–8 0–1 —
Mike McLean: 30–19 (.612) 10–3 (.769)
Brad Saindon (Big Eight Conference) (1990–1995)
1990[b] Brad Saindon 12–7 9–2 2nd
1991 Brad Saindon 25–10 10–2 2nd NCAA First Round
1992 Brad Saindon 22–9 10–2 2nd NCAA First Round
1993 Brad Saindon 26–6 11–1 1st NCAA Semifinals
1994 Brad Saindon 23–8 10–2 2nd NCAA Semifinals
1995 Brad Saindon 17–11 8–4 2nd NCAA First Round
Brad Saindon (Big 12 Conference) (1996–1996)
1996 Brad Saindon 19–10 13–7 3rd NCAA First Round
Brad Saindon: 144–61 (.702) 71–20 (.780)
Pi'i Aiu (Big 12 Conference) (1997–2008)
1997 Pi'i Aiu 22–9 16–4 2nd NCAA Semifinals
1998 Pi'i Aiu 22–8 14–6 3rd NCAA Second Round
1999 Pi'i Aiu 18–12 12–8 6th NCAA First Round
2000 Pi'i Aiu 17–12 12–8 T–5th NCAA Second Round
2001 Pi'i Aiu 19–11 13–7 4th NCAA Second Round
2002 Pi'i Aiu 15–15 9–11 7th
2003 Pi'i Aiu 21–10 13–7 T–3rd NCAA First Round
2004 Pi'i Aiu 15–14 9–11 T–6th NCAA First Round
2005 Pi'i Aiu 15–13 10–10 5th NCAA First Round
2006 Pi'i Aiu 18–12 12–8 5th NCAA Second Round
2007 Pi'i Aiu 7–22 1–19 12th
2008 Pi'i Aiu 13–16 7–13 T–8th
Pi'i Aiu: 202–154 (.567) 128–112 (.533)
Liz Kritza (Big 12 Conference) (2009–2010)
2009 Liz Kritza 7–22 2–18 11th
2010 Liz Kritza 6–20 3–17 10th
Liz Kritza (Pac-12 Conference) (2011–2015)
2011 Liz Kritza 6–24 1–21 12th
2012 Liz Kritza 14–18 4–16 T–10th
2013 Liz Kritza 18–14 9–12 T–7th NCAA Second Round
2014 Liz Kritza 21–13 11–9 T–4th NCAA Second Round
2015 Liz Kritza 19–13 11–9 5th
Liz Kritza: 91–124 (.423) 41–102 (.286)
Jesse Mahoney (Pac-12 Conference) (2016–2023)
2016 Jesse Mahoney 14–16 6–14 9th
2017 Jesse Mahoney 24–10 12–8 T–5th NCAA Semifinals
2018 Jesse Mahoney 18–14 10–10 T–6th NCAA First Round
2019 Jesse Mahoney 13–17 5–15 T–9th
2020[c] Jesse Mahoney 8–12 8–12 8th
2021 Jesse Mahoney 15–14 6–14 8th
2022 Jesse Mahoney 20–11 12–8 5th NCAA First Round
2023 Jesse Mahoney 16–15 8–12 7th
Jesse Mahoney (Big 12 Conference) (2024–present)
2024 Jesse Mahoney
Jesse Mahoney: 128–109 (.540) 67–93 (.418)
Total: 628–519 (.547)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Postseason

The Colorado Buffaloes have made 21 NCAA tournament appearances, including four regional semifinal appearances. The Buffaloes have a record of 14–20 in the postseason.[2]

Year Round Opponent Result
1989 First round Minnesota L 0–3
1991 First round Penn State L 2–3
1992 First round Nebraska L 1–3
1993 Second round
Regional semifinals		 Illinois
Penn State		 W 3–0
L 2–3
1994 Second round
Regional semifinals		 Northern Iowa
Nebraska		 W 3–1
L 0–3
1995 First round Northern Iowa L 0–3
1996 First round
Second round		 Oral Roberts
Hawaii		 W 3–1
L 0–3
1997 First round
Second round
Regional semifinals		 Tennessee Tech
Oral Roberts
Stanford		 W 3–0
W 3–2
L 0–3
1998 First round
Second round		 San Jose
Illinois		 W 3–0
L 1–3
1999 First round Utah W 3–0
2000 First round
Second round		 Georgia Tech
Colorado State		 W 3–1
L 2–3
2001 First round
Second round		 American
Colorado State		 W 3–0
L 2–3
2003 First round Michigan L 0–3
2004 First round Hawaii L 1–3
2005 First round Colorado State L 1–3
2006 First round
Second round		 New Mexico State
Washington		 W 3–0
L 0–3
2013 First round
Second round		 Iowa State
Minnesota		 W 3–1
L 2–3
2014 First round
Second round		 Northern Colorado
Colorado State		 W 3–1
L 2–3
2017 First round
Second round
Regional semifinals		 James Madison
Baylor
Nebraska		 W 3–0
W 3–0
L 0–3
2018 First round South Carolina L 2–3
2022 First round Rice L 1–3

Facilities

The Buffaloes play their home games at the CU Events Center on the campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder. Previously, they played in the Balch Fieldhouse from 1986 to most of the 1987 season.[2]

Top home attendance figures
Rank Attendance Opponent Result Date
1 4,883 UNLV L, 1–3 August 25, 2023
2 4,111 Nebraska W, 3–2 November 11, 2006
3 3,708 Nebraska L, 0–3 October 6, 2007
4 3,685 Nebraska L, 0–3 November 16, 1994
5 3,367 Nebraska L, 0–3 November 25, 1999
6 3,117 Arizona State W, 3–2 October 12, 2012
7 2,987 Nebraska L, 0–3 September 19, 2001
8 2,973 Nebraska L, 0–3 November 13, 2010
9 2,906 Nebraska L, 0–3 September 27, 1995
10 2,879 Nebraska L, 2–3 November 4, 1992
11 2,851 Arizona L, 1–3 October 14, 2012
12 2,846 Stanford L, 2–3 October 17, 2014
13 2,843 Texas L, 2–3 September 3, 1989
14 2,817 Nebraska W, 3–1 October 29, 2008
15 2,777 UCLA W, 3–2 September 27, 2013

Notes

  1. ^ Until October 6.
  2. ^ From October 12.
  3. ^ Played in Spring 2021 on a conference-only schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

  1. ^ University of Colorado at Boulder NIL Brand Guidelines (PDF). January 28, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Huck, Courtney. "2023 CU Volleyball information guide" (PDF). University of Colorado Athletics. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Brad Saindon". Western Washington University Athletics. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  4. ^ Ringo, Kyle (August 15, 2009). "Buffs cut ties with Aiu". Daily Camera.
  5. ^ "Aiu Dismissed After 12 Seasons as Coach". Coloradan Magazine. University of Colorado Boulder Alumni Association. March 1, 2009.
  6. ^ Howell, Brian (December 3, 2015). "CU volleyball: Liz Kritza dismissed as Buffs head coach". BuffZone. MediaNews Group.
  7. ^ "Jesse Mahoney". University of Colorado Athletics. Retrieved 20 November 2023.

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