Bulls Drop Tough Four-Set Match To Ball State

Saturday, October 11

7 pm

University at Buffalo

13-7, 3-3MAC

Ball State

11-8, 5-1MAC

Ball State

Buffalo

Bulls Drop Tough Four-Set Match To Ball State

10/11/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

BUFFALO, NY - The State University of New York, Buffalo volleyball team hung tough with one of the top teams in the MAC West on Saturday evening, but the Bulls fell in four sets to Ball State at Alumni Arena. The loss drops the Bulls to 13-7 on the year and 3-3 in conference play.

The Cardinals took the contest 25-23, 17-25, 25-23, 25-22 as they narrowly outhit the Bulls, .257 to .224. Each set was tight, beginning with the first one that saw 15 ties and five lead changes. The Bulls got out to the early 9-5 lead in the set, but Ball State scored four points to tie it up at 9-9. Neither team led by more than two points as the set remained tied 20-20. UB answered with two straight points to take a 22-20 lead, but Ball State went on a 4-0 run to take a 24-22 lead. The Bulls fought off one set point following a kill from junior Megan Lipski, but a Ball State point clinched the opening set, 25-23.

UB answered with its most dominating performance in the second set as the Bulls hit .500 with 16 kills and just two errors in the set. The Bulls started early as they scored five of the first six points of the set and led through out. The Bulls opened a 16-9 lead following a kill from junior Amber Hatchett and a kill from Lipski extended the lead to 20-11. A solo block from Hatchett clinched the set, 25-17, tying up the match into the intermission.

The third set was another close one that saw five ties, despite the Bulls never actually leading in the set. UB claimed its first tie early at 6-6 and then saw them tie it up again at 13-13 before Ball State went on a 4-0 run to take a 17-13 lead. The Cardinals opened up a five-point lead at 20-15, but a quick 5-2 run from the Bulls pulled them within 22-20 after a kill from senior Sable Staller. Ball State then scored two more points to go up 24-20, but UB fought off three straight set points to pull within 24-23. Following a Cardinal timeout, Ball State was able to score the final point, taking the set 25-23, and a 2-1 lead in the match.

The Bulls tried to send it to a fifth with a quick start in the fourth set as a kill from freshman Skyler Day gave the Bulls a 12-9 lead and forced Ball State to call time out. The Bulls went on to extend their lead to 20-16, but they couldn't hold on as Ball State scored seven straight points to go up 23-20. The Bulls tried to answer late, pulling back within one at 23-22, but a Ball State block, followed by a kill, clinched the set and the match for the Cardinals.

"I thought we did some things well tonight, but we weren't consistent enough and we didn't play with a sense of urgency," said head coach Reed Sunahara. "We are continuing to get better and we will get back in the gym this week and get ready for next weekend."

Lipski had another big match for the Bulls as she finished with a team-high 13 kills, recording just two errors, and hitting .407. Defensively, Lipski finished with a new career-high as she led her team with 19 digs. Over the two matches this weekend, Lipski finished with 26 kills and 28 digs.

Hatchett and fellow junior Tahleia Bishop each added 11 kills, while Staller and junior Akeila Lain finished with nine. Sophomore Megan Lin recorded a new career high with 47 assists, while adding four more service aces to her total. Lin has nine aces over the last two matches.

In addition to Lipski's 19 digs, freshman Niki Bozinsoki finished with 13 digs, while Staller added 10. The Bulls had eight total blocks as a team, led by four from Hatchett, who added two solos.

Ball State improved to 11-8 and 5-1 in MAC play with the victory. The Cardinals were led by 15 kills from Kelly Hopkins and 14 kills and no errors from Hayley Benson. Jenna Spadafora finished with 49 assists and Kati Vasalakis had 20 digs.

UB returns to the road next weekend as they face Western Michigan on Friday evening at 7:00 pm. The Bulls will then move on to Northern Illinois on Saturday night.