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University at Buffalo
16-11, 4-10MAC
Toledo
18-10, 11-3MAC
Svoboda Digs Her Way Into The Record Books Against Toledo
11/9/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, NY - Senior libero Kelly Svoboda had a night to remember on Saturday evening as she broke four digging records with her career-best 43 digs in a five-set loss to Toledo at Alumni Arena. It was an outstanding defensive performance by UB, who dug 98 balls, the most in a single match since 2005.
The catalyst for the performance was Svoboda, who set a personal career-high, while also setting the Division I single-match digging record with 43, just one off the overall program mark. If that wasn't enough, the performance gave her 580 digs on the season, setting a new single-season record surpassing the mark of 553, which Tori Beckman set in 2009, the year before Svoboda stepped on campus. Topping off the evening, the 43 digs give Svoboda 1,889 for her career, moving her into the all-time program lead, surpassing Lizaiha Garcia, who set the record in 2007. The 43 digs were also the most by a MAC player since the 2010 season.
Svoboda paced four UB players who finished in double figures in digs, including senior Dani Reinert and freshman Siena Wilder, who each finished with 16. For Wilder that was a new career best. Sophomore Megan Lipski chipped in with 10 as she played one of her best matches of the season, finishing with the double-double.
If it wasn't for the defensive performance put forth tonight, the story might have been sophomore Tahleia Bishop, who finished with a match-high 25 kills as she had just five errors on 58 total attempts. This comes just one match after setting a new career-high with 26 kills in a five-set match vs. Akron on Thursday. She was one of four players in double figures in kills as senior Christine Fritsche finished with 17, Lipski added 12 and Akeila Lain had 10.
However, for as good as the Bulls were on Saturday night, the MAC West-leading Toledo Rockets were just a little bit better. Toledo took the contest 25-21, 25-27, 25-17, 19-25, 17-15. The team's hit nearly even, with the Bulls recording four more kills. The difference in the match probably came at the service line, where UB had eight errors, opposed to just one for Toledo.
It took extra time in both the second and fifth sets, one which went in the Bulls favor and one that did not. The Bulls opened a 4-1 lead in the fifth and final set, the biggest margin for either team. Toledo's largest lead came at 12-10, but the Bulls scored three straight points to take a 13-12 lead. Toledo than recorded two straight points to lead 14-13, but UB was able to fight off two match points, tying the set up a 15-15. Back-to-back kills gave the Rockets the win.
"This was a very emotional loss, but I am beyond proud at the way we fought tonight against one of the best team's in the league," said head coach Todd Kress. "Kelly had the match of her life tonight and our team never quit and never gave in and as a coach that is all you can ask for."
The Bulls remain home next weekend for a pair of matches at Alumni Arena. UB will host Miami (OH) on Friday night at 7:00 pm and will then host Bowling Green on Saturday night, which will be Senior Day for UB's six-member senior class.
