Colorado Buffaloes women's volleyball

Last updated
Colorado Buffaloes women's volleyball
Colorado Buffaloes wordmark.svg
Founded1986;40 years ago (1986)
University University of Colorado Boulder
Athletic director Rick George
Head coachJesse Mahoney (8th season)
Conference Big 12
Location Boulder, Colorado
Home arena CU Events Center (capacity: 11,064)
Nickname Buffaloes
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.

Contents

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

Season-by-season results

Statistics overview
SeasonCoachOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Brad Saindon (Big Eight Conference)(1986–1988)
1986Brad Saindon 6–180–5
1987Brad Saindon 9–203–9T–5th
1988Brad Saindon 22–138–43rd
Brad Saindon:37–51 (.420)11–18 (.379)
Mike McLean (Big Eight Conference)(1989–1990)
1989Mike McLean 22–1110–22nd NCAA First Round
1990 [a] Mike McLean 8–80–1—
Mike McLean:30–19 (.612)10–3 (.769)
Brad Saindon (Big Eight Conference)(1990–1995)
1990 [b] Brad Saindon 12–79–22nd
1991Brad Saindon 25–1010–22nd NCAA First Round
1992Brad Saindon 22–910–22nd NCAA First Round
1993Brad Saindon 26–611–11st NCAA Semifinals
1994Brad Saindon 23–810–22nd NCAA Semifinals
1995Brad Saindon 17–118–42nd NCAA First Round
Brad Saindon (Big 12 Conference)(1996–1996)
1996Brad Saindon 19–1013–73rd NCAA First Round
Brad Saindon:144–61 (.702)71–20 (.780)
Pi'i Aiu (Big 12 Conference)(1997–2008)
1997Pi'i Aiu 22–916–42nd NCAA Semifinals
1998Pi'i Aiu 22–814–63rd NCAA Second Round
1999Pi'i Aiu 18–1212–86th NCAA First Round
2000Pi'i Aiu 17–1212–8T–5th NCAA Second Round
2001Pi'i Aiu 19–1113–74th NCAA Second Round
2002Pi'i Aiu 15–159–117th
2003Pi'i Aiu 21–1013–7T–3rd NCAA First Round
2004Pi'i Aiu 15–149–11T–6th NCAA First Round
2005Pi'i Aiu 15–1310–105th NCAA First Round
2006Pi'i Aiu 18–1212–85th NCAA Second Round
2007Pi'i Aiu 7–221–1912th
2008Pi'i Aiu 13–167–13T–8th
Pi'i Aiu:202–154 (.567)128–112 (.533)
Liz Kritza (Big 12 Conference)(2009–2010)
2009Liz Kritza 7–222–1811th
2010Liz Kritza 6–203–1710th
Liz Kritza (Pac-12 Conference)(2011–2015)
2011Liz Kritza 6–241–2112th
2012Liz Kritza 14–184–16T–10th
2013Liz Kritza 18–149–12T–7th NCAA Second Round
2014Liz Kritza 21–1311–9T–4th NCAA Second Round
2015Liz Kritza 19–1311–95th
Liz Kritza:91–124 (.423)41–102 (.286)
Jesse Mahoney (Pac-12 Conference)(2016–2023)
2016Jesse Mahoney 14–166–149th
2017Jesse Mahoney 24–1012–8T–5th NCAA Semifinals
2018Jesse Mahoney 18–1410–10T–6th NCAA First Round
2019Jesse Mahoney 13–175–15T–9th
2020 [c] Jesse Mahoney 8–128–128th
2021Jesse Mahoney 15–146–148th
2022Jesse Mahoney 20–1112–85th NCAA First Round
2023Jesse Mahoney 16–158–127th
Jesse Mahoney (Big 12 Conference)(2024–present)
2024Jesse Mahoney 13–176–12
2025Jesse Mahoney 23–912–6 NCAA Second Round
Jesse Mahoney:151–118 (.561)79–102 (.436)
Total:651–528(.552)

      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]

YearRoundOpponentResult
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
2025 First round
Second round		 American
Indiana 		W 3–0
L 0–3

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
RankAttendanceOpponentResultDate
14,883 UNLV L, 1–3August 25, 2023
24,111 Nebraska W, 3–2November 11, 2006
33,708 Nebraska L, 0–3October 6, 2007
43,685 Nebraska L, 0–3November 16, 1994
53,367 Nebraska L, 0–3November 25, 1999
63,117 Arizona State W, 3–2October 12, 2012
72,987 Nebraska L, 0–3September 19, 2001
82,973 Nebraska L, 0–3November 13, 2010
92,906 Nebraska L, 0–3September 27, 1995
102,879 Nebraska L, 2–3November 4, 1992
112,851 Arizona L, 1–3October 14, 2012
122,846 Stanford L, 2–3October 17, 2014
132,843 Texas L, 2–3September 3, 1989
142,817 Nebraska W, 3–1October 29, 2008
152,777 UCLA W, 3–2September 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. 1 2 3 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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