I always like to set up these threads for all the sports to account for any off-season and spring (for this sport) scrimmage and training period news.
1st, just a quick look back with some summary numbers from this past season:
Record - 23-9 overall; 12-6 in the regular season in their 2nd season back in the Big 12, which them in a tie (with Iowa State and Baylor) for 3rd place in the standings ( https://big12sports.com/standings.aspx?standings=203&path=vb). (They did beat both ISU and Baylor in their single match-ups during the season, so CU would have been the 3rd seed if they had a conference volleyball tourney.)
The team's ratings and rankings from the sources I could find:
National Ranking - In the last ranking available as I type this (dated 11/30), CU was the #24 ranked team in the main (AVCA, Coaches) poll before the NCAA tourney began.
RPI - Before the NCAA Tournament began (report dated 11/30), the Buffs had a #24 RPI (per https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/volleyball-women/d1/ncaa-womens-volleyball-rpi).
KPI (https://faktorsports.com/) - Along with RPI, the other rating that is available for the NCAA Tourney selection committee is KPI. In the latest rating (dated 12/7 so after the 1st weekend of tourney matches), the Buffs are at #20.
Massey (https://masseyratings.com/cvol/11590/ratings) - #29 (as of 12/9).
Then, a few things I wanted to note:
1st, just a quick look back with some summary numbers from this past season:
Record - 23-9 overall; 12-6 in the regular season in their 2nd season back in the Big 12, which them in a tie (with Iowa State and Baylor) for 3rd place in the standings ( https://big12sports.com/standings.aspx?standings=203&path=vb). (They did beat both ISU and Baylor in their single match-ups during the season, so CU would have been the 3rd seed if they had a conference volleyball tourney.)
The team's ratings and rankings from the sources I could find:
National Ranking - In the last ranking available as I type this (dated 11/30), CU was the #24 ranked team in the main (AVCA, Coaches) poll before the NCAA tourney began.
RPI - Before the NCAA Tournament began (report dated 11/30), the Buffs had a #24 RPI (per https://www.ncaa.com/rankings/volleyball-women/d1/ncaa-womens-volleyball-rpi).
KPI (https://faktorsports.com/) - Along with RPI, the other rating that is available for the NCAA Tourney selection committee is KPI. In the latest rating (dated 12/7 so after the 1st weekend of tourney matches), the Buffs are at #20.
Massey (https://masseyratings.com/cvol/11590/ratings) - #29 (as of 12/9).
Then, a few things I wanted to note:
- The BIG change the NCAA voted on that began last (2025/26) academic year for ALL sports was that maximum roster numbers have I believe been set for every sport, and scholarship maximums have been increased so that a school MAY (but doesn't have to) issue full scholarships to all student-athletes up to the new roster limits. Specifically related to volleyball:
- Max rosters starting last academic year is 18 for volleyball. (This past season, CU's roster was only 15, a decent change from the 2023 and 2024 seasons when they had 19.)
- The scholarship limit of 18 is a 50% increase from 2024 and earlier, which was 12. (Of course, no school HAS to increase their scholarship numbers (although Title IX still applies), so this may create more of a "have and have not" disparity between schools based on who has the resources and motivation to compete for championships in various Olympic sports they choose to prioritize.)
- I'd already reported it in the signing news thread, but also wanted to note here that the team announced an (initial) 4 student-athlete frosh class for the coming season. The article is at https://cubuffs.com/news/2025/11/13/colorado-volleyball-signs-four-standout-buffs-to-2026-roster . (Per the article, 2 of the 4 frosh, setter Richardson and middle block Hennessy, plan to be early enrollees and starting at CU in January.)
- With that announcement, and with 2 recognized on last week's Senior Day, looks like, before any potential outgoing transfers, there is room for 1 more to be added to the team if they want to go to the new 18 player roster limit (15 in the 2025 roster - 2 recognized seniors + 4 announced froshies = 17). (Even with the starting libero graduating, there are still 4 defensive specialist / liberos (DS/L) on the roster. However, with some injury issues this past season straining the team a few matches late in the season, and with none of the incoming frosh players being DS/L's, and with the team's only incoming transfers the last 2 years being DS/L's, I would GUESS that, if there are any incoming transfers (or additional frosh commits), there's a decent chance they could be DS/L's. Or course, if they lose players in any other position, that could very much change what the coaches may look to add, likely through the transfer portal.)
- I assume the team has HIGH expectations this coming year, as, pending any unfortunate transfers, ALL the starting veteran offensive/ front line players are hopefully returning, with 4 being seniors and 1 a junior next season. The obvious questions that will need to be answered include (in addition to competition among all the other hitters and middle blockers as they try to earn starting spots over the veterans): (1) the team will probably need to be on its 3rd setter in 3 seasons, with this year's redshirt junior setter Rian Finley recognized on senior day. (The 2 known setters on the roster will be young, 1 a sophomore and 1 an incoming frosh.) (2) The team will also need to be replacing 2 year starting libero Sarah Morton. (I'd assume this past season transfer and main defensive specialist Peyton Neal MIGHT be the favorite, but I'm sure the other 4 on the roster will also be working to be contributors on the court, including mainstay serving specialist Avery Bolles from 2 seasons ago hopefully back after missing almost if not all this season with an injury.)
