Colorado Buffaloes women's volleyball

Last updated
Colorado Buffaloes women's volleyball
Colorado Buffaloes wordmark.svg
Founded1986;38 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 [lower-alpha 1] Mike McLean 8–80–1
Mike McLean:30–19 (.612)10–3 (.769)
Brad Saindon (Big Eight Conference)(1990–1995)
1990 [lower-alpha 2] 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 [lower-alpha 3] 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
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]

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

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.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CU Events Center</span> Arena in Boulder

The CU Events Center is an 11,064-seat multi-purpose arena in the western United States, on the main campus of the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. Opened 44 years ago in 1979, it is home to the Colorado Buffaloes men's and women's basketball teams and women's volleyball of the Pac-12 Conference. The playing surface is named the Sox Walseth Court in honor of the former Buffaloes men's and women's basketball head coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado Buffaloes</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of University of Colorado

The Colorado Buffaloes are the athletic teams that represent the University of Colorado Boulder. The university sponsors 16 varsity sports teams. Both the men's and women's teams are called the Buffaloes or, rarely, the Golden Buffaloes. "Lady Buffs" referred to the women's teams beginning in the 1970s, but was officially dropped in 1993. The nickname was selected by the campus newspaper in a contest with a $5 prize in 1934 won by Andrew Dickson of Boulder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado Buffaloes football</span> Football team of Universit of Colorado Boulder

The Colorado Buffaloes football program represents the University of Colorado Boulder in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level, and is a member of the Big 12 Conference. The team was a charter member of the Big 12 Conference before leaving to join the Pac-12 Conference after the 2010 season. After 13 seasons in the Pac-12, the Buffaloes will return to the Big 12 in 2024. Before joining the Big 12, they were members of the Big Eight Conference. The CU football team has played at Folsom Field since 1924. The Buffs all-time record is 716–520–36 as of the 2022 season. Colorado won the 1990 National Championship. The football program is 27th on the all-time win list and 40th in all-time winning percentage.

Darian Hagan is an American former professional football player in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football as a quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes, earning national player of the year and All-American honors in 1989. After his playing career from 2005 to 2022, Hagan was an assistant coach for his alma mater, the University of Colorado Boulder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tad Boyle</span> American basketball coach (born 1963)

Thomas Martin "Tad" Boyle is an American college basketball coach who is the men's head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes of the Big 12 Conference. He was named the 18th coach in Colorado men's basketball history on April 19, 2010, replacing Jeff Bzdelik. Boyle was named as an assistant coach for USA Basketball a second time in 2015. He played collegiately at Kansas under coach Ted Owens and Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball</span> Mens basketball team in Colorado

The Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team represents the University of Colorado Boulder. The team competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I. They are currently coached by Tad Boyle.

The 1971 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the Big Eight Conference during the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. Led by ninth-year head coach Eddie Crowder, the Buffaloes were 9–2 in the regular season, and played their home games on campus at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball</span> College basketball team

The Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball team represents the University of Colorado Boulder and competes in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Colorado Buffaloes football team</span> American college football season

The 2012 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado Boulder in the Pac-12 Conference during the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by second-year head coach and alumnus Jon Embree, the Buffaloes played home games on campus at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.

The 1979 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado in the Big Eight Conference during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Chuck Fairbanks, the Buffaloes finished at 3–8, and played home games on campus at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.

The 1981 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado at Boulder in the Big Eight Conference during the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season. It was the third and final season for Chuck Fairbanks' as head coach, and the first year of blue jerseys for the Buffaloes, which were phased out in 1984.

The 1980 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado in the Big Eight Conference during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Chuck Fairbanks, the Buffaloes finished at 1–10, their second consecutive losing season, and played home games on campus at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado.

Forrest B. "Frosty" Cox was an American college basketball coach. He was the head basketball coach at the University of Colorado Boulder from 1936 to 1950 and the University of Montana from 1955 to 1962, compiling a career record of 227–174. Cox led the Colorado Buffaloes to three NCAA Tournaments and two National Invitation Tournament including the 1942 NCAA Final Four and the 1940 NIT title. He also was an assistant football coach and the position coach for Byron "Whizzer" White, during his All-American season in 1937

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018–19 Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2018–19 Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball team represents the University of Colorado Boulder during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Buffaloes, led by third year head coach JR Payne, play their home games at the CU Events Center and were a member of the Pac-12 Conference. They finished the season 12–18, 2–16 in Pac-12 play to finish in last place. They lost in the first round of the Pac-12 women's tournament to Arizona State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Colorado Buffaloes football team</span> American college football season

The 2022 Colorado Buffaloes football team represented the University of Colorado Boulder as a member of the Pac-12 Conference during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Buffaloes played their home games on campus at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colorado. After losing the first five games of the season, third-year head coach Karl Dorrell and defensive coordinator Chris Wilson were fired on October 2; offensive coordinator Mike Sanford Jr. was named the interim head coach of the Buffaloes for the remainder of the season, who named Clay Patterson as the offensive coordinator and Gerald Chatman as the defensive coordinator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022–23 Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team</span> Colorado Basketball team

The 2022–23 Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team represented the University of Colorado Boulder in the 2022–23 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by head coach Tad Boyle in his thirteenth season at Colorado. The Buffaloes played their home games at CU Events Center in Boulder, Colorado as members of the Pac-12 Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022–23 Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2022–23 Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball team represented the University of Colorado Boulder during the 2022–23 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Buffaloes, led by seventh year head coach JR Payne, played their home games at the CU Events Center and compete as members of the Pac-12 Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023–24 Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team</span> Colorado Basketball team

The 2023–24 Colorado Buffaloes men's basketball team represented the University of Colorado Boulder in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by head coach Tad Boyle in his fourteenth season at Colorado. The Buffaloes played their home games at CU Events Center in Boulder, Colorado in their last season as members of the Pac-12 Conference before they rejoined the Big 12 Conference in the 2024–25 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado Buffaloes women's lacrosse</span> College lacrosse team representing University of Colorado Boulder

The Colorado Buffaloes women's lacrosse team is an NCAA Division I college lacrosse team representing University of Colorado Boulder as part of the Big 12 Conference. They play their home games at Kittredge Field in Boulder, Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023–24 Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2023–24 Colorado Buffaloes women's basketball team represented the University of Colorado Boulder during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Buffaloes were led by eighth year head coach JR Payne and played their home games at the CU Events Center in their last season as members of the Pac-12 Conference before they will rejoin the Big 12 Conference in the 2024–25 season.

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.

Official website