URGENT UPDATE: The Colorado Buffaloes’ NCAA Tournament run came to a sudden halt as they suffered a devastating 3-0 defeat to the Indiana Hoosiers on December 5, 2025, at Wilkinson Hall in Bloomington, Indiana. This shocking loss eliminates the Buffs from the tournament, denying them a chance to reach the Sweet 16.
Coach Jesse Mahoney recognized that an outstanding performance was necessary for the Buffaloes to advance. The team had shown potential throughout the season, but it was the Hoosiers who seized crucial momentum with impressive play. Indiana won the match with set scores of 25-20, 25-17, 25-23.
The 15th-ranked Hoosiers (25-7, seeded fourth) move on to the next round while the No. 24 Buffaloes (23-9, seeded fifth) close their season without a Sweet 16 appearance for the first time since 2017.
“We made some errors at inopportune times and Indiana definitely made great plays when it mattered,” said Mahoney. “Ultimately, we couldn’t slow down their two left-side hitters, and that was the difference in the match.”
Indiana’s Candela Alonso-Corcelles dominated the court with 16 kills and an impressive .556 hitting percentage. Freshman sensation Jaidyn Jager added 15 kills and a .375 percentage, contributing to the Hoosiers’ overall hitting percentage of .378, compared to CU’s .208.
The Buffs started strong, leading 6-2 and 9-5 in the first set, but Indiana quickly rallied to tie the set at 11-11 and never trailed again. Although Colorado fought back in the second set, they fell behind after Indiana surged with a 5-1 run.
In a nail-biting third set, CU held a lead of 22-17 before Indiana closed the match with an 8-1 run, highlighted by three kills from Jager.
“The crowd was good, and I think (the Hoosiers) probably fed off that,” Mahoney added. “Each set, they made a run to break it open.”
For senior Sarah Morton, a native of Munster, Indiana, the loss was especially bittersweet. “I’m playing in my home state, but obviously, ‘Go Colorado’ for the rest of my life,” she reflected. Morton, along with Mahoney, expressed pride in the team’s journey despite the disappointment.
“I’m proud of this team. We put up a fight till the very end,” Morton stated, emphasizing that the team had exceeded expectations after a challenging season last year.
Previously predicted to finish 10th in the Big 12, Colorado proved doubters wrong by finishing third and making a strong return to the NCAA Tournament. They had swept American University, 3-0, just a day before facing Indiana.
As the dust settles on this season, Mahoney remains optimistic about the future: “Going through a season like this is going to be a learning experience for us, and I fully expect us to be a better team next year.”
This unexpected exit marks the end of a promising season for the Buffaloes, leaving fans eager to see how they will regroup and respond in the upcoming year.
