The Colorado Women’s Volleyball team has welcomed two new players ahead of the 2026 spring season. As part of efforts to introduce these athletes, the team has launched a Volleyball Spotlight Series, featuring freshman setter Elle Richardson.
Richardson began playing volleyball at age 12 and joined a club team a year later. She also participated in ballet and basketball during her childhood.
She explained how she became interested in volleyball: “My dad forced me to go to a volleyball camp, and I told him that I’d never play volleyball and that it was stupid. And then I came home that day from camp, and I was like, this is the best thing ever. And now I’m here!”
On her decision to join the University of Colorado (CU), Richardson said: “I love the environment. I love that it’s so pretty here. The people are so amazing. It’s just, overall, the best.”
Discussing her role as a setter on the team, she noted: “I like being everyone’s biggest cheerleader. I don’t really get a ton of the glory. I just get to hype other people up and facilitate for other people.”
Looking ahead to her first spring season with CU, Richardson stated: “I’m excited to just start working with the team, start building connections, and get prepped for the fall season.” She added about the upcoming fall: “I’m just excited to be there and be a part of it.”
Outside of volleyball, Richardson enjoys reading and watching movies from the early 2000s romantic comedy genre such as “The Proposal,” “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” and “She’s the Man.” When asked about books, she described her interests as varied.
Richardson expressed an interest in becoming a physical therapist because she wants “to stay close to athletics in some sort of way” and aims “to always be improving my body and help other people improve theirs and recover and get back.”
She shared a personal detail about herself: “I love hot chocolate! I will drink it in all forms, [but] true hot chocolate has my heart. I put French vanilla cream in it, and then if they add a little foam on top of that, that’s perfect.”
Concluding her introduction, Richardson said: “I’m excited to be here!”
Further information about Colorado volleyball can be found at cubuffs.com/vb or by following @cubuffsvb on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Facebook.
