BREAKING: The Colorado Buffaloes’ NCAA Tournament run has come to a sudden end as they fell to the Indiana Hoosiers in a decisive 3-0 sweep on December 5, 2025, at Wilkinson Hall in Bloomington, Indiana. This loss marks the end of a promising season for the Buffs, who were making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2022.
Despite a strong start, the Buffs could not maintain their momentum as Indiana exploited key opportunities. The Hoosiers, ranked 15th nationally and seeded fourth, dominated the match with set scores of 25-20, 25-17, and 25-23, advancing to the Sweet 16 and ending Colorado’s hopes for their first Sweet 16 appearance since 2017.
Head coach Jesse Mahoney acknowledged the challenges his team faced, noting, “We made some errors at inopportune times, and Indiana definitely made great plays when it mattered.” The impact of Indiana’s standout players was evident, with Candela Alonso-Corcelles delivering 16 kills and a remarkable .556 hitting percentage, while freshman sensation Jaidyn Jager added 15 kills.
Colorado’s Ana Burilovic led the Buffs with 19 kills, but the team struggled with a hitting percentage of just .208, compared to Indiana’s impressive .378. Mahoney emphasized that his team should not allow opponents to hit above .300, stating, “That’s the short version.”
The match began with Colorado taking an early lead, jumping ahead 6-2 in the first set. However, Indiana quickly equalized and took control. After a competitive start, the Buffs lost their grip, unable to recover from Indiana’s pivotal runs throughout the match.
In a bittersweet moment, senior player Sarah Morton, a native of Munster, Indiana, reflected on her last game. “I’m playing in my home state, but obviously, ‘Go Colorado’ for the rest of my life,” she said, highlighting the emotional significance of the match.
Despite the disappointment of the loss, Morton and Mahoney recognized the remarkable progress the team made this season, having improved from a 13-17 record the previous year to securing a solid finish in the NCAA Tournament. “They decided they were going to make a change and get better,” Mahoney noted, expressing pride in his team’s resilience.
The Buffs entered the tournament as a fifth seed and had previously secured a victory over American University, sweeping them 3-0 to reach the second round. The unexpected journey has set a positive tone for the future, with Mahoney confident about the team’s growth moving forward.
As the NCAA Tournament continues, the focus now shifts to the Hoosiers, who look to build on their success in the upcoming rounds. Colorado fans can take heart in the progress their team has made and look forward to a promising next season.
