13-10, 3-6MAC
Eastern Michigan
13-10, 4-5MAC
Bulls Drop Five-Setter To Eastern Michigan
10/24/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, NY - The State University of New York, Buffalo volleyball team was unable to hold on to a 2-0 lead on Friday evening as the visiting Eastern Michigan Eagles came back for a five-set victory at Alumni Arena. The loss was UB's fourth straight as it falls to 13-10 on the season and 3-6 in conference play.
The Eagles took the contest 23-25, 18-25, 26-24, 25-19, 15-10 as they narrowly outhit the Bulls, .176 to .173. Despite trailing 20-15 in the opening set, the Bulls were able to make a late charge, going on a 6-0 run to take a 21-20 lead in the set. The run was capped off on a block from freshman Cassie Shado and junior Tahleia Bishop. The Eagles retook the lead at 23-22, but the Bulls scored the final three points of the set with the final point coming from Shado.
UB had an easier time in the second set despite allowing the first two points. The Bulls opened a 15-7 lead midway through the set on a kill from junior Amber Hatchett and led 19-12 before EMU pulled within 19-16. The Bulls ended the set on a 6-2 run to go up 2-0 in the match.
The Bulls looked to be in control heading into the break, however the Eagles had a different idea. The third set was close through out as the teams remained tied at 18-18. EMU went up 22-19 in the set before UB was able to tie it back up at 23-23. The Bulls fought off one set point, but the Eagles took the set, 26-24.
The Eagles rode the momentum in the fourth for a 25-19 victory as the Bulls went to a fifth set for just the second time this season. Eastern Michigan never trailed in the fifth set opening an 11-7 advantage. UB scored two straight points to pull within 11-9, but the Eagles ended the night on a 4-1 run to take the match.
Bishop led the way with a match-high 23 kills as she took 66 swings in the contest. Shado finished with a career-high 12 kills, as she hit a team-best .391. Hatchett added nine kills and junior Megan Lipski added five.
Junior Marissa Prinzbach tied for match high honors with 42 assists, while adding a team-high 15 digs, an honor she shared with freshman Niki Bozinoski. Bishop added 13 digs, while Lipski finished with 12.
The Bulls had 11.0 total blocks as a team, led by five from Hatchett and four from Bishop and Shado.
Eastern Michigan was led by Jill Briner, who finished with a triple-double with 11 kills, 42 assists and 12 digs. Stacey Perinar added 19 kills and Megan Crawshaw had 11. Corynne Smith added 22 digs for the Eagles.
UB returns to action tomorrow evening when it hosts Central Michigan at 7:30 pm. The match will be UB's Dig Pink event. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to tomorrow night's event.
