Match Thread: Penn State vs. Colorado 9-8-17 5:30 p.m. ET

I checked Colorado's roster last night, looking for Gabby Simpson--a RS/S who had been one of Haleigh Washington's high school teammates. She's no longer on the team, having transferred to Kansas. That's a plus for us as she was a pretty good player and had a good game against PSU last year.

Should be a great volleyball weekend at Huff Hall.

If the stream works, we'll do our best to populate this thread with witty insights regarding on-court sights.  And who knows what the lunatic fringe might generate?

Geeez....  Do you think anyone else notices?  And really, referring to you as a lunatic would be stretch.  As for myself...  people (in the real world) have tried to make the case.  Put another way, you're a centripetal force on the site--keeping us on task, on topic, and centered.  I'm a centrifugal force, pulling things off course, away from the center, I represent chaos.  

Here's  a bit more on Colorado players:

Frankie Shebby (6-0 OH):

At Oregon (2014-15)
During her sophomore season at Oregon, Shebby played in 23 matches, starting in 10, and averaged 1.81 kills per set. She recorded a season best 15 kills twice, once against LIU Brooklyn and again versus Washington State. In the same match against WSU, Shebby picked up a season high 11 digs and 17.5 points.

As a freshman in 2014, Shebby played in 31 matches and earned 13 starts. She ranked third on the team with 2.55 kills per set and averaged 1.02 digs per set and 0.44 blocks per set. Shebby recorded double figure kills in 17 matches, including a season high 16 kills against Utah when she also attacked at a season best .483 clip. A two-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week selection, Shebby was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.

High School
Frances Shebby (La Mirada, Calif.) was born on February 8, 1996 in BellShebby was honored by PrepVolleyball.com all four years of high school (Mater Dei HS), being selected as a Senior Ace (No. 44), a Top 50 Junior, National Sophomore of the Year Finalist and a Frosh 59 honorable mention. She was also selected the All-CIF Southern Section Div. 1AA Co-Player of the Year. As a junior and senior, Shebby was the Trinity League MVP, as well as an All-Orange County First Team selection.

Alexa Smith  (6-1  OH):


Colorado's top point-scorer from last season - Lex is also their most complete all-around player. She affects the game in all areas: she is an efficient attacker, an elite passer, and lethal from the serving line. When Lex plays well, Colorado plays well.

As a Sophomore in 2016
Smith made an immediate impact on the team, joining the Buffs as a sophomore. She earned a starting position right out of the gate and played in 120 of 121 sets. A starter in all 30 matches, Smith led the team with 3.17 kills per set and her 380 total kills ranked 11th in the Pac-12. Her 380 kills, combined with a team-best 21 aces and 54 blocks, gave Smith 429.5 points (3.58 points per set) for the season. Defensively she was second on the team with 2.61 digs per set. Smith made her debut for CU against Texas Tech (8/26) and totaled a career-high 23 kills while adding eight digs. Her first double-double of the season came in the following match vs. Portland State (8/27) when she tallied 14 kills and 15 digs. Smith also had a big weekend at the Pac-12/Big 10 Challenge the following weekend, picking up another pair of double-doubles. She notched 12 kills and 18 digs against then-No. 13 Penn State and 11 kills and 13 digs against then-No. 17 Illinois as the Buffs recorded a pair of five-set upsets. After helping the Buffs to a 3-0 weekend at the Omni Invitational, which included their first win over Colorado State since 2002 where Smith recorded 21 kills while hitting .391 with 10 digs and two blocks, she was named the tournament’s MVP, averaging 4.11 kills, 1.33 digs and 0.44 blocks per set while hitting .378. Smith performed very well during the Pac-12 season and only had five matches with less than 10 kills. During the season, she recorded 13 double-doubles and reached 20 kills in three matches.

As a Freshman in 2015 (at Purdue)
Smith saw action in 33 matches and started in 10. Smith recorded 10 double-doubles, which included a 13 kills and 13 digs performance against No. 7 Ohio State. In a match against Northwestern, she picked up a season-best 14 digs. Smith recorded a season-high .529 hitting efficiency against Austin Peay, which included nine kills on 17 errorless swings. Smith averaged 2.05 digs per set (227 total digs), the third most on the team. She also recorded 80 kills, 21 aces and 20 blocks. Smith received 527 serves and committed just 31 errors for a .941 reception percentage.

High School
The Lewis Palmer High School graduate was a much decorated athlete. She was named the 2015 High School Player of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association as well as the 2014 Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year. Smith was listed at No. 7 among PrepVolleyball.com’s Senior Aces and was a Volleyball Magazine Fab 50 selection.


Anna Pferfferle (6-2 MB)


Pfefferle had another solid season, starting in 27 of CU’s 30 matches. She was second on the team in blocks for the second straight year with 103, averaging 0.88 blocks per set. Pfefferle had a huge match against then-No. 17 Illinois at the Pac-12/Big Ten Challenge, recording a season-high 11 kills while hitting .625 with just one error on 16 attacks. In the same match she also came up with four digs and posted five blocks for a season-best 14.5 points. Pfefferle recorded a career-best eight digs early in the season against Colorado State (9/17), helping CU to its first win against the Rams since 2002. She led CU in blocks in nine matches this season, which included a pair of seven block performances against UC Irvine (9/10) and Stanford (11/4). Pfefferle ended the season with 103 kills, 11 aces and 64 digs in 117 sets.

As a Sophomore in 2015
Pfefferle started in all 32 matches and continued to be a strong blocking presence for the Buffs, posting 117 total blocks (nine solo and 108 assists), which was second on the team. Her 117 blocks ranks 17th on CU’s single season chart. On the career chart, she ranks 13th all-time with 255 blocks. Pfefferle posted a season-best 10 blocks in a four-set win against Montana State (9/18) during the non-conference season. She also posted nine blocks at Oregon (10/2) and eight blocks against Washington (9/27). Pfefferle hit .341 to rank eighth in the Pac-12, which was the 11th best in CU single season history. She recorded 244 kills and just 57 errors on 549 attacks. In conference only matches, Pfefferle hit .347, the seventh best total, with 162 kills and 37 errors on 360 swings. Pfefferle recorded a .400 or higher hitting efficiency in 12 matches. In the contest against Arizona (11/14), she hit .667 with eight kills on 12 errorless attacks. Pfefferle tallied a career-high 14 kills two days prior against Arizona State (11/12). Pfefferle averaged 1.98 kills, 0.11 assists, 0.15 services aces, 0.59 digs and 0.95 blocks per set during the season.

As a Freshman in 2014
Pfefferle didn’t wait long to make an impact for the Buffs, breaking CU’s freshman record for blocks in a season, formerly held by Meghan Barkman from 1999 (134), with 138. She posted 16 block solos and 122 block assists. Twice during the season, Pfefferle recorded 10 or more blocks. She posted a career-high 11 blocks in the five-set upset of No. 2 Washington (11/13) after recording 10 blocks against UCLA (10/12). Her 1.10 blocks per set led the team and ranked seventh in the Pac-12. She also ranked fifth in the conference with 1.15 blocks per set in conference-only matches. Pfefferle hit .294 during the season, tallying a career-high .727 hitting efficiency with eight kills on 11 errorless attacks against Presbyterian (8/30). She also recorded a season-best 11 kills twice, once against Arizona State (10/3) and against California (10/19). Pfefferle started in 32 of 34 matches and recorded 159 kills, 12 aces, 57 digs and 138 blocks. She was named to the 2014 Pac-12 All-Freshman honorable mention team and was honored as the Co-Most Improved Player at the team’s annual banquet.

High School
Pfefferle helped NHS to a 17-12 record during the 2013 season. That year, she was named All-Missota Conference and was ranked in the state’s top-10 in hitting percentage (.408) and blocks (1.53 blocks per set), while adding 3.59 kills per set.

Naghede Abu (6-4 MB)


Abu had a breakout sophomore season, starting in all 30 matches. She was sixth in the Pac-12 in blocks per set (1.26), which was 53rd in the NCAA. Abu averaged 1.69 kills per set while attacking at the ninth best mark in the Pac-12 (.323). In just the second match of the season, she tied a CU record with 15 blocks against Portland State. The 15 blocks (in a single match) was tied for second in the NCAA this season and led the Pac-12. Abu set CU’s rally-scoring era single season blocks record with 153, surpassing the former record by two (151). During the season, Abu was named the CU Athlete of the Week twice, was selected to the Omni Invitational All-Tournament Team and was honored as the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week after helping the Buffs upset then-No. 13 Penn State and then-No. 17 Illinois at the Pac-12/Big Ten Challenge with 1.20 blocks per set. In the match against PSU, Abu recorded nine kills and six blocks. The following night she recorded 13 kills and four blocks against UI. Offensively during the 2016 campaign, Abu recorded 10 or more kills in four matches and hit .400 or above 12 times. Abu led the Buffs in blocks 21 times this season and was one of three Buffs to play in all 121 sets. An All-Pac-12 honorable mention selection, Abu recorded 205 kills and hit .323 while adding 153 blocks (15 solo and 138 assists) for 289.0 points.

As a Freshman in 2015
Abu was a force at the net for the Buffs in her freshman campaign, ranking eighth in the Pac-12 in blocks with 1.20 per set, which was 64th in the NCAA. Abu posted 142 total blocks, 15 solo and 127 assists, which broke CU’s freshman season record and is tied for the sixth best single season in Colorado history. In conference only matches, Abu averaged 1.28 blocks per set, which was third in the league. An Omni Invitational All-Tournament Team selection, she recorded a season best 10 kills and just one error on 12 attacks against Weber State (9/18), to hit .750, which tied the 13th best hitting percentage in CU history. Abu was the first CU freshman to earn Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors after she averaged 1.50 blocks per set as CU defeated Cal and Stanford. The following week, Abu posted 2.25 blocks per set (18 blocks in eight sets), which included a career best 11 at Arizona (10/23). The following night against Arizona State (10/23), Abu posted seven total blocks, five solos and two assists. Abu played in 31 of 32 matches for the Buffs, earning 29 starts. She was named a Pac-12 All-Freshman honorable mention selection after recording 139 kills and 142 blocks while hitting .254 in 2015.

High School
Abu didn’t start playing competitive volleyball until her junior year of high school, but she has excelled quickly. She earned all-league honors while averaging 3.2 kills and 1.02 blocks per set as a junior. She tallied a school record of 30 kills in a match against Kaiser High School in 2014.

Joslyn Hayes  (6-3 RS):


Hayes had her best season yet as a junior, playing in 27 of CU’s 30 matches while starting in 11. A team captain, Hayes posted a career-best 11 blocks in the second match of the season against Portland State (8/27). The 11 blocks tied for 13th in CU history. In the same match, Hayes also recorded 11 kills to hit .391. During the course of the season, she tallied 10 or more kills nine times, which included a 16 kill performance against Southern California (9/30). Hayes was able to finish the match for the Buffs in a pair of key wins; she had the final kill in CU’s first win over Colorado State (9/17) since 2002) and also hammered the final kill in a five-set upset of No. 12 UCLA (10/2). Hayes recorded 214 kills, 48 digs and 95 blocks (two solo and 93 assists) in 108 sets during the campaign and hit .245.

As a Redshirt Sophomore in 2015
Hayes played in 24 matches and recorded eight starts as a redshirt sophomore. She started in the first two matches of the season, but suffered an injury in the first set against Florida State (8/29) and was forced to miss the following four matches. Hayes gradually started seeing more playing time for the Buffs as the season went on, especially as the team entered the Pac-12 schedule. In the Buffs first ever win against Stanford (10/18), Hayes recorded seven kills and three blocks. In the following match against Arizona (10/23), she recorded a season high 11 kills in a four-set win and also hit .286. Hayes recorded 117 kills, 38 digs and 32 blocks during the season.

As a Sophomore in 2014
Hayes had her season cut short, playing in just 12 matches, which allowed her to redshirt the season. She made her time on the court count and was named to the Omni Hotels Colorado Volleyball Classic All-Tournament Team after helping CU to wins against Portland State, Georgia State and Pittsburgh. Hayes hammered a career high 13 kills twice during the year, once against Pitt (9/6) and against South Dakota (9/19). She recorded a .417 hitting percentage against Butler (9/13) with 11 kills and just two errors on 24 attacks. Hayes tallied 117 kills, 26 digs and 34 blocks while hitting .153.

As a Freshman in 2013
Hayes saw action in 22 matches, including three starts during the 2013 season. She made her collegiate debut in Colorado’s first match of the season against St. Mary’s (Calif.) on August 30, recording five kills and hitting .333. Her career-high six kills, 16 attacks, two digs and 7.5 points came against Northwestern State (9/13) at the Baylor Invitational. Hayes saw most of her action as a right side hitter to give the Buffs a bigger block as she recorded a career-high three blocks on three different occasions. She finished her first season with 29 kills, 118 attempts, 10 digs, 17 blocks and 39.5 points.

High School
Hayes played at Santa Monica High School under coach Liane Sato. The 2012 Samohi squad finished the season with a 12-3 record after playing in the CIF semifinal match. A four-year letterwinner at SMHS, Hayes was named first-team all-league freshman, sophomore, junior and senior seasons.

Brynna DeLuzio (5-9 Fr. Setter):


Deluzio was named a 2016 AVCA Under Armour Second Team All-American after helping The First Academy win its second state championship during her tenure, finishing the season with a 26-5 record. The 4A Player of the Year recorded 375 kills and hit .319 in 88 sets. She also added 278 digs and 18 blocks.

Deluzio earned NHS AAU All-America status in 2015 as a junior. Over the course of 70 sets, she recorded 292 kills, 191 digs and 18 blocks while hitting .331. As a sophomore, she was tabbed an NSHS AAU All-American. She was also a member of the 2012 THS team that won the state title.

Deluzio currently plays for the Top Select Volleyball Club. Her team won the AAU National Championship in 2016 and competed at the AAU championships in 2012 and ’13, as well as USA Nationals in 2012. She was recruited by Florida State, Georgia Tech and Pepperdine, but chose Colorado for her collegiate career because “it’s a different experience and both of her parents went to school here.” Her father, Donald, played on CU’s football team.

Gabby Carta-Samuels (5-6- Jr. libero):


As a Sophomore in 2016
Carta-Samuels was a significant contributor for the Buffs as a sophomore, playing in 20 matches mainly as a defensive specialist. She saw time in the first five matches of the campaign and recorded a season-best five digs against Long Beach State (8/27), the third contest of the season, before suffering an injury which forced her to miss eight matches. Carta-Samuels returned to the line-up against then-No. 12 UCLA, helping CU record a five-set upset. She tied her season-best five digs later in the campaign against California (10/9). Carta-Samuels recorded 21 digs (0.36 per set) during the season and added one kill, two assists and six aces for 7.0 points.

As a Freshman in 2015
Carta-Samuels saw action in 14 matches for the Buffs, debuting in the season opener against San Diego (8/28). She recorded a season-best six digs in a 3-0 win against Air Force (9/20). Carta-Samuels tallied 20 digs and two assists during the season.

High School
Carta-Samuels was named a 2014 AVCA Under Armour Third Team All-American after helping Archbishop Mitty to a 37-3 record. During the year, she collected 800 digs (4.1 per set) and added 50 aces. AMHS put tougher a 41-4 record in 2013 and during those two seasons, Carta-Samuels handled 1,236 serve receptions.

Emily DeMure (listed as setter/opposite)- I do believe that she redshirted with Penn State last year so we didn't get a chance to watch her play.  Not sure she will play today either.

It seems that many players who leave PSU do not end up playing so much or so well when they t/f. Raises the question about whether you'd be better off not going to PSU if you're not at the top of the rankings, or staying and being a part of a great team. Interesting case was Jessica Yanz who left in ?2008? after Glass arrived. She went to NE, had to sit a year (BIG rules), then was surplus. She graduated not having played much after leaving PSU. Then Dayton's Kacie Housfeld died in a small plane accident and in the spring of 2010, Dayton had no setter. Yanz had a year of eligibility left, and they (as i heard the story) got Yanz into UD grad school and she guided the Flyers to the NCAAs. More freaky facts: Yanz became a teammate of Laura Broerman's sister; Megan Courtney played club w/Housfeld (pink ribbon).