
Frogs Fall in Five-Set Heartbreaker
11/13/2025 11:54:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BOULDER, Colo. – Battling for five sets, No. 16 TCU fell in a heartbreaker to No. 22 Colorado on Thursday night inside the CU Events Center.
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The Horned Frogs (18-8, 8-6 Big 12) forced extra points in both the fourth and fifth sets, erasing deficits, but were unable to close out the match when they had a two-set-to-one advantage.
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TCU finished with a team high 19 total blocks, its most in a match since 2023, but in the end, the Frogs couldn't slow down the Buffs' offense, powered by outside hitter Ana Burilovic, who ranks seventh nationally in points per set.
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Evan Hendrix turned in 19 kills on the night, one shy of her eighth 20-plus kill performance this season. She was followed by Lauren Murphy and Becca Kelley with 12 and 11, respectively. Murphy had a strong night, hitting at a very efficient .357 clip and tying her career-high with seven blocks.
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Both teams were very evenly matched to start the first set, trading points back and forth until Colorado went on a 4-0 scoring run out of the media break to go up 19-15. The Frogs battled back within one on a kill from Kelley, but the Buffs responded to score the final three points and take the opening set 25-21.
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In the second set, TCU grabbed an early two-point lead and took control. A 6-1 run down the stretch, capped off by an Alexis Roberson stuff block, gave the Frogs a seven-point advantage at 23-16. Hendrix put down a kill, and a CU error helped TCU even the match at one set apiece.
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The Frogs carried the momentum into the third set, and torched the Buff with a 9-1 stretch as everything was going their way. TCU kept its foot on the gas, building up its largest lead of the night at 23-15 before closing out the set with a 25-19 victory.
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Trying to extend the match and force a fifth set, Colorado flipped the script on the Frogs with a 4-1 run that gave the Buffs a four-point cushion. They carried it all the way until set point; however, TCU fended off three straight set points with Riley Weigelt at the service line to tie things up at 24-24. Pushing into extra points, the Frogs stalled Colorado two more times and even had a chance to win the match, but the Buffs came away with back-to-back kills to win 29-27.
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Playing a winner-take-all fifth set, it was Colorado who jumped out to a 6-2 lead. The Buffs continued to push the margin to five, going up 10-5 on the Frogs before TCU methodically chipped away at the lead. Scoring in bursts, the Frogs managed to tie the set back up at 14-14 and send the fifth set into extras. Both teams had opportunities to put the match away, but in the end, it was Colorado who earned the 19-17 victory to win the match in a five-set thriller.
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TCU looks to bounce back on Saturday, Nov. 15, when it takes on No. 25 Iowa State in Ames, Iowa, at 2 p.m. CT.
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The Horned Frogs (18-8, 8-6 Big 12) forced extra points in both the fourth and fifth sets, erasing deficits, but were unable to close out the match when they had a two-set-to-one advantage.
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TCU finished with a team high 19 total blocks, its most in a match since 2023, but in the end, the Frogs couldn't slow down the Buffs' offense, powered by outside hitter Ana Burilovic, who ranks seventh nationally in points per set.
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Evan Hendrix turned in 19 kills on the night, one shy of her eighth 20-plus kill performance this season. She was followed by Lauren Murphy and Becca Kelley with 12 and 11, respectively. Murphy had a strong night, hitting at a very efficient .357 clip and tying her career-high with seven blocks.
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Both teams were very evenly matched to start the first set, trading points back and forth until Colorado went on a 4-0 scoring run out of the media break to go up 19-15. The Frogs battled back within one on a kill from Kelley, but the Buffs responded to score the final three points and take the opening set 25-21.
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In the second set, TCU grabbed an early two-point lead and took control. A 6-1 run down the stretch, capped off by an Alexis Roberson stuff block, gave the Frogs a seven-point advantage at 23-16. Hendrix put down a kill, and a CU error helped TCU even the match at one set apiece.
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The Frogs carried the momentum into the third set, and torched the Buff with a 9-1 stretch as everything was going their way. TCU kept its foot on the gas, building up its largest lead of the night at 23-15 before closing out the set with a 25-19 victory.
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Trying to extend the match and force a fifth set, Colorado flipped the script on the Frogs with a 4-1 run that gave the Buffs a four-point cushion. They carried it all the way until set point; however, TCU fended off three straight set points with Riley Weigelt at the service line to tie things up at 24-24. Pushing into extra points, the Frogs stalled Colorado two more times and even had a chance to win the match, but the Buffs came away with back-to-back kills to win 29-27.
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Playing a winner-take-all fifth set, it was Colorado who jumped out to a 6-2 lead. The Buffs continued to push the margin to five, going up 10-5 on the Frogs before TCU methodically chipped away at the lead. Scoring in bursts, the Frogs managed to tie the set back up at 14-14 and send the fifth set into extras. Both teams had opportunities to put the match away, but in the end, it was Colorado who earned the 19-17 victory to win the match in a five-set thriller.
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TCU looks to bounce back on Saturday, Nov. 15, when it takes on No. 25 Iowa State in Ames, Iowa, at 2 p.m. CT.
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Players Mentioned
Team Stats
TCU
CU
Kills
57
64
Errors
24
36
Attempts
150
163
Hitting %
.220
.172
Points
80.0
82.0
Assists
50
60
Aces
4
10
Blocks
19
8
Game Leaders
Wednesday, September 09
Wednesday, September 09
Wednesday, August 26
Tuesday, September 10






















