.png&width=22&height=22&type=webp)
University at Buffalo
17-11, 5-10MAC
Miami (OH)
11-16, 3-12MAC
Bulls End Skid With Sweep Of Miami
11/15/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo volleyball team ended a seven-match losing streak on Friday night as the Bulls swept Miami (OH), 3-0, and kept their hopes alive for a bid into the 2013 Mid-American Conference Tournament heading into the final night of conference play. With the win, UB improved to 17-11 and 5-10 in the MAC. The five wins tie the most the Bulls have ever recorded in one conference season.
UB took the contest 25-19, 25-23, 25-22 as the Bulls outhit Miami, .244 to .087. UB led for the majority of night, including the first set, where it had the lead wire-to-wire. The Bulls opened the first set on a 6-1 run as a kill from sophomore Megan Lipski prompted a Miami timeout. The RedHawks pulled within two as UB led 14-12 in the set, but a 6-3 Bulls' run gave them a 20-15 advantage. Miami pulled within 22-19, but the Bulls scored the final three points of the set with the final one coming on an ace from senior Carissa McKenna.
The RedHawks got out to the early lead in the second set, scoring five of the first six points. However, the Bulls quickly went ahead by using a 7-2 run, which was capped off on back-to-back kills from senior Christine Fritsche. The Bulls opened up a four-point lead, but Miami came back late and took a 21-20 advantage. The Bulls were able to tie the set back up at 23-23 and a kill from Lipski followed by a dump from setter Dani Reinert ended the set in favor of the Bulls, 25-23.
UB scored the first four points of the third set and seemed to dominate, but seven service errors kept the RedHawks in the match. Miami led just once in the set at 12-11, but a 4-0 run gave UB a 15-12 lead, which it would hold on to for good. The RedHawks pulled within two late at 23-21 and continued to trail 24-22 when a kill from sophomore Tahleia Bishop ended the set and the match.
"I thought tonight was a great team win for us," said head coach Todd Kress. "Our setters distributed the ball well and our hitters finished. We will enjoy this for the night, but know that we have a very important evening tomorrow against BG."
Bishop led the way with 13 kills, while Lipski added 10 kills and just two errors on 29 attempts. Fritsche added seven kills, while sophomore Amber Hatchett finished with six. Reinert led the way with 26 assists, while Taylor Pritchett added 12.
Defensively, senior Kelly Svoboda had another 7.0-dig per set evening as she finished with a match-high 21 digs. Reinert completed the double-double with 10 digs, while Lipski added nine. The Bulls had 8.0 total blocks, led by four from Hatchett and McKenna.
UB closes out MAC play tomorrow when it hosts Bowling Green at 7:30 pm. It will be Senior Night for UB's six-member senior class.
