Before Friday, University of Colorado volleyball player Gabby Simpson had never tallied more than 14 kills in a single game, a mark she reached last week in addition to the first game of her CU career in 2014.
On the opening day of the Omni Invitational, Simpson eclipsed that total twice.
The sophomore from Colorado Springs helped CU complete Day 1 of the tournament with a pair of victories by recording a team-leading 16 kills Friday night in a sweep of Weber State at the Coors Events Center. That effort arrived just hours after Simpson established a new career standard with 21 kills in a four-set win against Montana State.
After recording a double-digit kill total just once in CU’s first five games, Simpson has now reached that figure in five straight games.
“This week I really feel like I put in extra work on my hitting, because I want to be a primary hitter on the right side,” Simpson said. “I feel like the extra work this week really helped me out.”
In the nightcap against Weber State, the Buffs were in danger of falling in an early hole against the underdog Wildcats. CU trailed 24-21 in Set 1 when head coach Liz Kritza attempted to rally her troops during a timeout.
The message clearly was received, as senior Alexis Austin and freshman Naghede Abu led CU on a set-closing 6-1 run that put a permanent restraint on Weber State’s ideas of an upset.
“That (timeout) was just explaining what needed to happen in the next series of three balls, and giving them their plan that they had to go execute. And they did,” Kritza said. “Credit to them. I told them this when we changed sides for the second set that those sets can easily slip away. They did a really good job of listening and making sure those defensive assignments were met. That’s what that timeout was about.”
Weber State never recovered from the abrupt change of momentum. CU used a 9-0 run to turn a minor 7-6 deficit in Set 2 into a comfortable 15-7 lead, and the Buffs never trailed in Set 3 after racing to a 10-4 advantage.
Abu supported Simpson with 10 kills and four blocks against Weber State, while Katelyn Cuff turned in a solid all-around game with five kills, seven digs, and a pair of blocks.
Senior setter Nicole Edelman enjoyed a stellar day as well, registering 44 assists against Montana State before adding another 35 against Weber State. Edelman has eclipsed the 30-assist mark in five consecutive contests.
Colorado native Ciera Borho, a graduate of Prairie View High School, led Weber State’s offense with eight kills.
“I definitely think this week we got back to basics and working on things that we can focus on our side of the court, and not worry about what’s going on on the other side,” sophomore Anna Pfefferle said. “We worked really hard on getting back to that gritty defense and getting to balls we didn’t get last weekend. Earlier (Friday) and especially tonight, we got back to playing our style of game.”
The Buffs continue play in the Omni Invitational on Sunday against George Mason (9 a.m.) and Air Force (7 p.m.).
Pat Rooney: rooneyp@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/prooney07
CU 3, Montana State 1
At Coors Events Center (Game 1)
Montana State (2-6) 18 25 21 22
Kills — Montana State: Godfrey 15, Svisco 12, Kreun 11, Passeck 10; CU: G. Simpson 21, Austin 11, Cuff 7.
Blocks — Montana State: Godfrey 3, Kreun 2; CU: Pfefferle 10, Cuff 6.
Assists — Montana State: Harrington 42, Altman 5; CU: Edelman 44.
Aces — Montana State: Kreun 3; CU: Edelman 2.
Digs — Montana State: Altman 14, Passeck 12, Harrington 10; CU: C. Simpson 15, Edelman 11.
CU 3, Weber State 0
At Coors Events Center (Game 2)
Weber State (3-7) 25 15 18
Kills — Weber State: Borho 8, Thompson 7, Staker 7; CU: G. Simpson 16, Abu 10, Austin 5, Pfefferle 5, Cuff 5.
Blocks — Weber State: Thompson 3; CU: Abu 4, Pfefferle 4, Edelman 4.
Assists — Weber State: Christensen 26; CU: Edelman 35.
Aces — Weber State: Hover 2; CU: C. Simpson 2.
Digs — Weber State: Christensen 5, Cavalcanti 5; CU: Cuff 7, C. Simpson 5, Edelman 4.