The 2013 Lady Buffs Volleyball team posted its first winning season since 2006, by winning 17 matches and losing 13. In conference play, they were only 9-11; however, one of those wins included an upset of Washington, the eventual conference champion.
In 2006 the team was 17-12 overall and 12-8 in the Big 12 Conference. That year they were the only blemish on Nebraska’s record. The Cornhuskers were both Conference and National Champions.
The 2006 Lady Buffs featured a mix of talented out-of-staters (Alex Buth, Lauren Schaefer, Callie Webster, Ashley VenHorst, Austin Zimmerman, and Mallori Gibson) and Colorado residents:
- Kaitlyn Burkett – Colorado Springs
- Lara Bossow – Vail
- Kristin Karlik – Colorado Springs
- Amber Nu’u – Aurora
- Ashley Nu’u – Aurora
- Amber Sutherland – Glenwood Springs.
Nicole Edelman sets Nikki Lindow.
The team closed out the season with a loss to the Washington Huskies in the round of 32 in the NCAA tournament.
There have been six very long years for Buff fans and players between 2007 and 2012. Overall, they won 29.9% of their matches, 52-122. Their conference record was abysmal, 18-104; they won 14.8% of their matches.
Major contributors to the 2013 Lady Buffs team also included a mix of out-of-state players (Kerra Schroeder, Elysse Richardson, Alexis Austin, Joslyn Hayes, and Neira Ortiz Ruiz) and top Colorado players:
- Emily Alexis – Brighton
- Jessica Aschenbrenner – Denver
- Nicole Edelman – Boulder
- Kelsey English – Colorado Springs
- Nikki Lindow – Erie
- Cierra Simpson – Colorado Springs
- Taylor Simpson – Colorado Springs
It is great to see a Colorado D1 program have success on and off the court, but it is even more special when it includes so many in-state players. Go Lady Buffs Volleyball!