CU women's teams eye a big fall
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Colorado Buffaloes' Hope Leyba jumps for a ball at Prentup Field in Boulder on Aug. 12. Photo: Matthew Jonas/MediaNews Group/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images
Forget football: This fall could belong to the women's soccer and volleyball teams at the University of Colorado Boulder.
The big picture: Both teams enter the year with high postseason expectations after standout 2025 seasons.
⚽ Kicking it off
Context: CU soccer last year went 17-4-3, setting a program record for wins and reaching the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2013.
- The Buffs entered this season ranked No. 13 nationally and were picked second in the Big 12 — their highest-ever finish in the conference's preseason poll.
Driving the news: CU returns record-setting striker Hope Leyba, Jace Holley and much of an offense that scored a program-record 59 goals last year.
- The defense is led by All-American Faith Leyba.
- Both Leyba sisters and Holley were named to the watchlist for the MAC Hermann Trophy, soccer's equivalent of the Heisman.
The intrigue: The biggest question is at goalkeeper, where CU is still trying to fill the sizable cleats of All-American goalkeeper Jordan Nytes.
- Freshman Brooke Goerish appears to be emerging from a three-way competition after she played all 90 minutes in each of CU's last two games, posting back-to-back shutouts against New Mexico and Utah State.
State of play: CU is 5-1-1 with their only loss coming 3-2 at Michigan State.
- CU dropped to No. 24 but outscored New Mexico and Utah State 5-0 over the holiday weekend.
- The Buffs have outscored opponents 18-6 through seven games, and have stretched their unbeaten streak at Prentup Field to 20 matches.
🏐 Setting the bar
Context: Meanwhile, the volleyball team went 23-9 last year and reached the NCAA Tournament's second round.
- CU entered this fall ranked No. 23 nationally and fifth in the Big 12 preseason poll.
- The Buffs brought back a senior-heavy core led by All-American Ana Burilovic, while Cayla Payne also earned preseason Big 12 all-conference honors.
State of play: The team is a perfect 6-0 after sweeping its second consecutive home tournament to start the season.
- The Buffs swept Wichita State on Friday before surviving five-set tests against New Mexico and Northern Colorado to win the Buffs Invitational last weekend.
Zoom out: CU's success comes as women's college sports are enjoying a broader boom, with record NCAA participation and growing audiences — including a 13% jump in viewership for the NCAA volleyball tournament last year.
The bottom line: Coach Prime and the football team may still get most of the headlines, but don't be surprised if CU's women are the ones playing meaningful games deep into the postseason.