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University at Buffalo
11-0
Valparaiso
10-2
Bulls Overcome Slow Start To Push Unbeaten Streak To 11
9/20/2013 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, NY - For the first time this season the University at Buffalo volleyball dropped an opening set and was forced to play from behind, but the Bulls pulled out a 3-1 victory over Valparaiso during the opening night of the Blue and White Classic. The loss for the Crusaders was just their second of the season.
The Bulls took the match, 11-25, 25-15, 25-21, 25-19 as they outhit Valparaiso, .190 to .109. It was a slow start for UB, who hit -.148 in the opening set and was unable to get anything going offensively. However, the Bulls turned it on, beginning with a strong second set. UB opened the set on a 6-1 run, forcing the Crusaders to call an early timeout. The Bulls extended their lead to 10-3 and Valparaiso got no closer than within four in the set. UB led by as many as 11 in the set as a solo block from sophomore Amber Hatchett gave the Bulls a 24-13 lead. A kill from fellow sophomore Tahleia Bishop closed out the set at 25-15.
Following the intermission, UB raced out to a 6-2 lead following back-to-back service aces from sophomore Megan Lipski. Valparaiso came back and took an 18-15 lead in the set, but the Bulls went on a 6-1 run to go up 21-19. The Crusaders again pulled within one, but UB got some clutch serving from freshman Siena Wilder as the Bulls scored three straight points to increase the lead to 24-20. A kill from Lipski gave UB the set and the 2-1 lead in the match.
Looking to clinch the match, the Bulls opened the fourth set on an 8-2 run, but Valpo came back to tie it up at 10-10. A quick 6-3 run by Buffalo gave it a 16-13 lead and following two Valparaiso points, UB went on another 6-1 run, expanding its lead to 22-16. An attack error from the Crusaders ended the set and the match.
"I don't know why we came out slow tonight, but I was extremely pleased with the way we responded," said head coach Todd Kress. "Tonight was absolutely a total team victory and we had different players stepping up huge all evening."
Senior Christine Fritsche finished with a match-high 15 kills and just three errors on a season-high 47 attempts. Lipski and fellow sophomore Akeila Lain each finished with 10 kills, while Bishop added nine kills and just two errors. Junior Taylor Pritchett finished with 21 assists and seven digs, while senior Dani Reinert added 19 assists and seven digs.
Senior Kelly Svoboda led all players with 27 digs, while Lipski added 11 and Fritsche had nine. After recording just one team block in the opening set, the Bulls finished the night with 14.0 total blocks, remaining one of the top blocking teams in the nation. Senior Carissa McKenna had seven total blocks, while Lain added six and Hatchett had five.
In earlier action this afternoon at the Blue and White Classic, #13 Ohio State defeated Maryland-Eastern Shore, 3-0. The Buckeyes and Crusaders will open play tomorrow at 11:00 am and UB will play its first match at 1:30 pm against Maryland-Eastern Shore. The Hawks and Crusaders will play at 4:30 pm tomorrow and then UB and Ohio State will round out the tournament at 7:00 pm.
