Hope Coliseum got loud Sunday afternoon. West Virginia University volleyball knocked off No. 25 Colorado in four sets, 25-23, 23-25, 25-17, 25-11, for its second win over a ranked opponent this season.
That ties the program’s single-season record for ranked wins. The Mountaineers beat No. 9 Arizona State back on Sept. 25, and Sunday’s result moves them to 12-10 overall and 5-7 in Big 12 play.
The difference was at the net. Senior middle blocker Maddy McGath and sophomore right side Anna Barr each finished with 10 blocks, and West Virginia out-blocked Colorado 16 to 7 as a team. It was only the second match this season in which two Mountaineers reached double-digit blocks.
The first set nearly got away. Down 23-19, WVU scored the last six points, with Trinity Sheridan, Macie Smith and McGath all putting balls away during the run and McGath ending it. Colorado answered by taking the second set 25-23 after pulling away from a 20-20 tie.
From there it was all West Virginia. The Mountaineers hit .440 in a 25-17 third set, then opened the fourth on a 5-0 run and stretched the lead to 18-4 on the way to a 25-11 finish. Colorado managed just four kills in that final set.
Freshman outside hitter Macie Smith posted her first career double-double with 13 kills and 13 digs, plus three aces. Sheridan matched her with 13 kills while hitting .458. Alexis Finnvold handed out 24 assists, freshman setter Lauren Duncan added 14 assists and three aces, and freshman libero Reagan Turk led the back row with 17 digs.
The Mountaineers hit the road next, traveling to Houston for a rematch with the Cougars on Thursday, Nov. 12.