Fordham
Bulls Take Home UB Invitational Championship
8/29/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo volleyball team began the 2009 season on a positive note winning the University at Buffalo Invitational on Saturday. The Bulls split their two matches on the day, defeating Fordham 3-2 in the afternoon, before falling to Seton Hall 3-0 in the nightcap. The Bulls end the first weekend of play with a 2-1 record.
Freshman Tori Beckman had quite the opening weekend as she was named tournament MVP, recording 63 digs on the weekend. Also named to the All-Tournament team from the Bulls was Kelsey Luedersand Dani Silvers.
UB took the first match against Fordham by a score of 21-25, 25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 15-11 as Silvers led the way with a career-high 22 kills and just four errors on a career-best 42 swings for a .429 hitting mark. Lueders added 10 kills and two blocks, including a solo, while also recording two service aces. Beckman led the way with a match-high 26 digs marking an early career-best for her. Junior Lindsey Schlegel had 47 assists, five kills, eight digs, two blocks and a match-high four service aces. Junior Kristin Bignell had eight total blocks, including two solos.
Fordham was led by 16 kills from Christi Griffiths and 15 kills from Kailee May. Sara Friede had 19 digs and Katherine Burrell added 50 assists and 15 digs.
In the evening contest, Seton Hall picked up the victory with a 25-17, 25-20, 25-16 win over the Bulls. As a team, Seton Hall hit .301, opposed to just .121 for UB. Silvers led the way for Buffalo with eight kills, while Lueders had seven. Sophomore transfer Abby Niekampadded six kills. Beckman had her second straight 20-dig performance with 20 digs. Schlegel added 25 assists, 10 digs and four kills, as well as two service aces.
Seton Hall was led by nine kills from Meghan Matusiak and nine kills from Sarah Osmun. Allie Matters had 24 assists, while Olivia Trudeau and Megan Murison added 17 assists a piece.
Beckman, Lueders and Silvers were joined on the All-Tournament team by Matusiak from Seton Hall, Griffiths from Fordham and Mollie Kolosky and Melanie Cimino from Boston College.
The Bulls will be back in action next weekend as they head to the Nittany Lion Invitational. First up for UB is two-time defending national champion Penn State on Friday at 7:00 pm.
