UPDATE: The Colorado Buffaloes’ NCAA Tournament run has come to a swift end as they suffered a devastating three-game sweep against the Indiana Hoosiers on December 5, 2025, in Bloomington, Indiana. The final scores of 25-20, 25-17, 25-23 eliminated CU from the tournament, marking a disappointing conclusion to their season.
Just moments ago, the 15th-ranked Hoosiers, who are now 25-7 and seeded fourth, advanced to the Sweet 16, while the No. 24 Buffaloes finished at 23-9, falling short of their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2017. Head coach Jesse Mahoney acknowledged the challenge, stating, “This is a really good team in a tough environment.”
The match played at Wilkinson Hall showcased Indiana’s dominance, particularly through standout performances by Candela Alonso-Corcelles with 16 kills and a remarkable .556 hitting percentage, and Jaidyn Jager, who added 15 kills at .375. The Hoosiers achieved an impressive overall hitting percentage of .378, overshadowing CU’s .208.
Despite a promising start, with the Buffs leading 6-2 and 9-5 in the first set, the momentum quickly shifted to Indiana. They tied it at 11-11 and never looked back. CU’s Ana Burilovic led the Buffaloes with 19 kills, but the team could not maintain consistency.
“We made some errors at inopportune times, and Indiana definitely made great plays when it mattered,” Mahoney commented. “Ultimately, we couldn’t slow down their two left side hitters, and that was the difference in the match.”
Indiana’s tactical prowess was evident as they capitalized on CU’s mistakes, concluding the third set with a crushing 8-1 run. The Buffaloes’ struggles were compounded by late-game errors, with Mahoney noting, “We shouldn’t let anyone hit over .300 on us in any match.”
For senior Sarah Morton, who hails from Indiana, the loss was particularly bittersweet. “I’m playing in my home state, but obviously, ‘Go Colorado’ for the rest of my life,” she reflected, expressing pride in her team and their season despite the disappointing end.
CU’s journey this year was marked by resilience, bouncing back from a challenging 13-17 record in 2024 to exceeding expectations by finishing third in the Big 12 and returning to the NCAA Tournament. Mahoney praised his team’s effort, stating, “They decided they were going to make a change and get better, and I’m proud of them for accomplishing that goal.”
As the season concludes, the Buffaloes will reflect on their growth and the lessons learned, with hopes of a stronger comeback next year. The NCAA Tournament exit leaves a lingering sense of what could have been, but the future looks bright for this resilient team.
