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University at Buffalo
13-9 (3-5MAC)
Northern Illinois
15-7 (8-0MAC)
Bulls Fall To MAC Leader Northern Illinois
10/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
DEKALB, IL - The State University of New York, Buffalo volleyball team took it to four sets with the top team in the Mid-American Conference, but UB fell 3-1 to Northern Illinois on Saturday evening. The loss drops the Bulls to 13-9 and 3-5 in MAC play, while NIU continues to be undefeated in the MAC at 8-0.
The Huskies took the contest 23-25, 25-21, 25-23, 25-19 as NIU outhit UB, .257 to .214. The Bulls got out to a quick start to the evening as they won the first set. UB opened the evening on an 8-2 run and led 17-9 before the Huskies started to make a comeback. The Huskies actually fought off two match points and pulled all the way back within 24-23 before UB clinched the set on a kill from junior Megan Lipski.
Northern Illinois came back and won the second set to tie the contest up, but both teams then had their chances in the third. The Bulls opened the set on an early 6-3 run and continued to lead until late into the set. A kill from junior Tahleia Bishop gave the Bulls a 22-20 lead, but two straight points from NIU tied the set up. The Bulls went back ahead on a Northern Illinois service error, but the Huskies responded by scoring the final three points to take the set, 25-23.
In the fourth set, UB got out to a slim 12-10 advantage, but a 9-3 run from the Huskies gave the hosts a 19-15 lead. The Bulls worked their way back within two at 20-18, but NIU closed out the match on a 5-1 run.
Lipski led the Bulls with 14 kills, while fellow junior Akeila Lain added 12. Bishop came off the bench and had nine kills and just one error on 14 swings, while freshman Cassie Shado finished with seven kills and no errors on 17 attacks. Fellow freshman Skyler Day also had seven kills. Junior Marissa Prinzbach finished the evening with 45 assists.
Defensively, Day had a career-best 16 digs to lead the Bulls, one of four players in double figures in digs. Lipski added 13 for the double-double, while freshman Niki Bozinoski had 12 and sophomore Megan Lin added 10. Lain and Shado each finished with four total blocks, including three solos for Shado.
After being on the road for five of the last six matches, the Bulls return to Alumni Arena next weekend for a pair of home contests. The Bulls will host Eastern Michigan on Friday night at 7:00 pm.
