No. 24 Colorado heads into one of the Big 12’s toughest road tests on Friday, visiting No. 9 TCU in Fort Worth after a 1-1 start to conference play.
The Buffaloes are coming off a five-set win over Arizona, a match that featured double-doubles from setter Jenna Ylivainio and pin attackers Ana Burilovic and Sydney Jordan. Jordan posted her first double-double of the season, while Ylivainio and Burilovic each recorded their third. Colorado also saw seven players finish with season or career highs in the victory.
CU enters the matchup at 10-2 overall and 1-1 in the Big 12, while TCU is 11-2 and 2-0 in league play. The Buffs also moved up to No. 24 in this week’s AVCA-Taraflex Division I poll.
Friday’s meeting will be only the third all-time between Colorado and TCU. The series is tied 1-1, and Colorado won the most recent matchup in five sets on Nov. 13, 2025.
Colorado has been sharp in several key statistical categories this season. The Buffs lead the Big 12 in opponent hitting percentage at .161 and blocks per set at 3.02.
Ylivainio ranks third in the conference in assists per set with 10.09, while senior middle blocker Cayla Payne is third in blocks per set at 1.36. Burilovic also sits near the top of the league, ranking third in points per set at 5.03 and fifth in kills per set at 4.16.
The Buffs are 1-0 against ranked opponents this year after defeating then-No. 16 USC.
Their last game against a No. 9 team came against Arizona State, when Colorado lost in four sets on Nov. 23, 2024.
TCU comes in with plenty of momentum of its own. Outside hitter Becca Kelley was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after helping the Horned Frogs stretch their winning streak to nine matches.
That run is tied for the second-longest in program history and is the longest since 2012. Kelley averaged 4.79 points and 4.29 kills per set during the opening weekend of conference play while hitting .333.
Jason Williams is in his fifth season as TCU’s head coach.
In Other News...
Colorado Homecoming Just Took An Unexpected Turn Before Texas Tech
Homecoming in Boulder was supposed to give Colorados meeting with No. 12 Texas Tech a little extra buzz, especially with the Red Raiders making their first visit to town since 2010 and the Buffaloes also folding in a 150th anniversary celebration. Instead, the run-up to the game has come with an unexpected twist off the field, as resale prices for the cheapest tickets have fallen sharply in the days before kickoff.
Still, the matchup has the feel of one that should draw real attention once the ball is in the air, and Colorado knows the challenge waiting from a ranked Texas Tech team. Wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. has already pointed to the importance of protecting home field, which makes the softening market around the game feel even more curious as Boulder gets ready for a big weekend. [Read more 🡒]
Deion Sanders Puts Pressure On Colorado Before Texas Tech Test
Deion Sanders spent part of his latest press conference doing what he has often done in Boulder this season, putting the spotlight squarely on execution. Colorado has been uneven on third and fourth down, and Sanders made clear the issue is less about the design of the offense than the need for players to finish plays, while also defending Brennan Marions system as the Buffaloes prepare for Texas Tech.
Sanders broadened the message beyond one area, pointing to the running game, turnovers, field position, special teams and penalties as parts of the operation that need to sharpen up. He said the effort was there against Baylor, but effort only goes so far if it does not turn into points and wins, and that makes the Texas Tech matchup another measuring stick for a team still trying to put its best football together. [Read more 🡒]
DeAndre Moore Jr. Revealed What Colorado Showed After His Scary Hit
DeAndre Moore Jr.s collision against Baylor briefly turned a routine Saturday into one of those moments that makes the whole sideline hold its breath. The Colorado receiver did regain consciousness and, in a scene that said plenty about both his toughness and the situation, walked off the field without needing a cart. His teammates made sure he knew they were behind him, and Deion Sanders later said Moore was kept out of practice afterward but is expected to be available for the Texas Tech game.
Moores update afterward fit the tone Colorado has tried to strike through the season: shaken by the scare, but not defined by it. He spoke with optimism about where the Buffaloes are headed and stressed how important it is to protect their home field, a reminder that even amid injury concerns, the focus remains on finishing strong. For Colorado, the immediate concern was health, but the broader message was just as clear - the locker room is still very much invested in the stretch ahead. [Read more 🡒]