This is the most important day of the season for the Colorado volleyball program.

And not just because the Buffs play No. 21 Baylor tonight in Waco (6 p.m.).

Liz Kritza plans to announce the signing of at least five recruits to national letters of intent. Today is the first day of the early signing period.

The first-year CU head coach plans to add more talent during the spring signing period and hopes to enter the 2010 season with as many as 10 new faces on the roster.

"You need to have competition in your gym," said Kritza, who is working with a thin roster this season. "It`s part of our training culture and competition culture we`re trying to build here. If you don`t have it at every position then players don`t improve

CU's Rosie Steinhaus hits over Destinee Hooker, left, and Sha'Dare McNeal of Texas during a match earlier this season. ( CLIFF GRASSMICK )
as quickly as they could."

The Buffs are currently 7-17 overall and 2-13 in the Big 12, but Kritza has some impressive young players to build around for next season.

Sophomore outside hitter Becah Fogle ranks 10th in the league with 3.29 kills per set, and Rosie Steinhaus (2.83) and Kerra Schroeder (2.55) have also been improving steadily in the demanding, fast-paced offense the new staff is trying to implement.

"With the improvements we`ve made throughout the year I think we can definitely upset one of these top teams," Steinhaus said. "We`re definitely the underdog, and that`s almost the better position to be in. We don`t have pressure on us, but we`re going to go out fighting and I think it will be a great match."

CU is feeling confident after traveling to Lubbock and sweeping Texas Tech in its last match. After a fast start to the season, the Bears (20-6, 9-6) are 5-5 in their last 10 matches.

"We really stepped up our game a little bit against Texas Tech," Steinhaus said. "It`s kind of a pride thing."

The Red Raiders have won two matches all season and are winless in the Big 12. Still ...

"Our first Big 12 road win is significant and to do it in three is a good sign. As a team we needed to decide if we were really going to step up or if we were going to make it a four- or five-set battle against a team that very well could have taken us to those extremes," Kritza said. "We really needed to decide to start separating ourselves, even if it`s against a team at the very bottom of the conference. It`s a huge step for this program. We needed that."

The Buffs will host Missouri on Saturday night at the Coors Events Center. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Barringer watch

Before Jenny Barringer can officially compete for an NCAA championship in cross country, CU`s running star will have to qualify at the NCAA Mountain Region Championships in Albuquerque this Saturday.

Shouldn`t be a problem. Everybody`s All-American has dominated every race she`s competed in this fall.

The regional championships are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. The NCAA Championships will be held in Terre Haute, Ind., on Nov. 23.