Bulls Down Rockets To Qualify For 2014 MAC Tournament

Saturday, November 15

5 pm

University at Buffalo

16-14 (6-10MAC)

Toledo

1-28 (0-16MAC)

Buffalo

TOLEDO

Bulls Down Rockets To Qualify For 2014 MAC Tournament

11/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

TOLEDO, OH – For the first time since the MAC Volleyball Tournament shrunk to the top eight teams in 2011, the State University of New York, Buffalo volleyball program will find themselves in that field of eight, following a 3-2 win at Toledo on Saturday evening. The win improves the Bulls to 16-14 on the year and 6-10 in conference play. The six conference wins are tied for the most in a year since joining the MAC.

After struggling in their recent five-set matches, the Bulls were able to find a way to win one when they needed it the most today, taking down Toledo, 25-23, 18-25, 25-22, 21-25, 15-12. Despite being outhit on the evening, the Bulls used strong blocking to come away with the victory.

"I am proud of this group for sticking together through some rough patches this season," said first-year head coach Reed Sunahara. "We talk about it being three seasons: your non-conference season, your conference season and now the conference tournament. We know we have a fresh start and an outstanding opportunity to do something special next weekend."

The two teams didn't have much separation, forcing the pivotal fifth set. Toledo took a 5-3 lead early in the fifth before the Bulls answered by scoring six straight and taking a 9-5 advantage, forcing a Toledo timeout. The Rockets pulled back within one three times, but with the Bulls leading 13-12, kills from Akeila Lain and Skyler Day gave the Bulls the set and the match.

UB had a balanced attack as four players reached double figures in kills, led by 15 from Day. Lain added 13 kills, while freshman Cassie Shado added 12 kills and junior Megan Lipski finished with 10. Junior Amber Hatchett just missed double figures as she had nine kills in the match. It was another balanced performance by UB's two setters as junior Marissa Prinzbach finished with 28 assists and sophomore Megan Lin added 25.

Defensively, freshman Niki Bozinoski finished with 21 digs, while Day completed the double-double with 14 digs and Lin had a double-double of her own with 12 digs. As a team, the Bulls recorded 16.0 total blocks, led by eight apiece from Shado and Lain. Hatchett added six, including a pair of solos.

The Bulls will now move on to the 2014 MAC Tournament, finishing in the top eight for the first time since joining the league. UB had played in the MAC Quarterfinals on two other occasions, but they had advanced as a lower seed when first round matches were still played on campus sites.

The tournament will be held in Athens, OH as Ohio earned the right to host as the regular season champion last year. The Bulls will play on Friday at 5:30 pm against the fifth seed in the tournament. The MAC Tournament will run through the weekend, ending on Monday evening with the championship match.