Colorado had to absorb a brutal fourth set, regroup, and then finish the job.
The Buffaloes outlasted Cincinnati in five sets Thursday night at the CU Events Center, winning a wild Big 12 match that swung back and forth before Colorado closed it out 15-12 in the decider. It was the Buffs’ fifth five-set win of the season, and they responded after their largest set loss of the year in the fourth.
Colorado improved to 15-5 overall and 6-4 in Big 12 play, while Cincinnati dropped to 10-9 and 3-6 in conference action. The Buffs are now 10-1 at home and have won three straight in Boulder.
“Really happy to get the win there in five. Proud of our team for bouncing back after that fourth set,” Head Coach Jesse Mahoney said.
“Cincinnati has some really nice athletes, and they pose a challenge. I'm happy to get out of there with the win.
We have to rest and recharge for Sunday.”
The opening set looked like Colorado was in full control. The Buffs rolled to a 25-17 win behind a strong start, including early kills from Ines Losada, Ana Burilovic and Cayla Payne, plus a service ace from Jenna Ylivainio. Colorado built a comfortable cushion and finished the frame on Lily Dwinell’s kill.
Cincinnati answered in the second, edging the Buffs 25-23 after turning a tight set into a late advantage. Colorado had its moments - including a three-point surge sparked by a block from Ylivainio and Maria Splawska - but the Bearcats found the final punch to even the match.
Colorado bounced back in the third set, taking it 25-20 and putting itself one frame away from the win. Payne marked a career milestone in that set with her 750th kill, and she also moved into fourth place on Colorado’s all-time blocks list with 420. The Buffs kept pressure on Cincinnati throughout the frame, with key swings from Losada, Burilovic and Payne helping them stay ahead.
Then came the swing that changed everything. Cincinnati stormed through the fourth set 25-8, giving Colorado its toughest stretch of the night and forcing the match into a fifth. The Bearcats piled up runs and left the Buffs chasing from the start.
Colorado steadied itself in the fifth. Burilovic jump-started the set with two kills during an early 3-0 run, Payne delivered back-to-back kills to help the Buffs regain the lead, and Ylivainio kept the momentum moving with a kill and a block. Dwinell pushed Colorado to 11-8, Losada added a kill and an ace, and Burilovic and Dwinell finished it off.
Burilovic led the Buffaloes with 22 kills and added 11 digs. Payne finished with nine kills and six blocks. Splawska had five kills, three digs and five blocks, while Ylivainio turned in 41 assists and a career-high 14 digs.
Ylivainio also matched her career high with two service aces and continues to lead Colorado with seven double-doubles this season. Freshman pin attacker Dumebi Okoye recorded her first collegiate kill.
Colorado also got a milestone night from Ylivainio in the stat sheet and a home-court boost it has leaned on all season. The Buffs are 13-2 when they win the opening set and 6-3 when they split the first two. They also hit .667 in the first set against Cincinnati.
Splawska said the chance to play in Boulder again meant plenty.
“I miss home. I miss playing here,” Splawska said.
“And the crowd and the people here are so amazing. I'm so glad that we're here again.”
The Buffs now turn to Texas Tech, with Sunday’s match set for 1 p.m. at the CU Events Center. It will stream on ESPN+, with live stats available on cubuffs.com.
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