7-4
Indiana
8-2
Bulls Fall To Big Ten Foe Indiana
9/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BLOOMINGTON, IN - The University at Buffalo volleyball team hung tough on Friday night as they played their first Big Ten opponent of the season, but the Bulls fell in the opener of the Hoosier Classic, 3-1, to the hosts Indiana University. The loss drops the Bulls to 7-4, while Indiana improves to 8-2.
The Hoosiers took the contest 25-20, 21-25, 25-23, 25-18 as they outhit the Bulls .245 to .169. The Bulls got out to the quick lead in the first set as a kill from freshman Cassie Shado gave UB a 7-4 lead. Indiana answered though with a 10-3 run to take a 14-10 lead in the set. UB pulled back within one at 17-16, but Indiana scored four straight to take a 21-16 lead. The Hoosiers went on to win the set 25-20.
The Bulls had their best set in the second as they hit .400 as a team. Tied 9-9, UB scored five straight points to take a 14-9 lead in the set. A kill from junior Akeila Lain helped UB maintain its lead at 20-15 and despite a late run by the Hoosiers, a kill from junior Tahleia Bishop gave the Bulls the set at 25-21.
The third set remained close as the Bulls got out to the 13-9 lead following a kill from Lain. However, three straight UB attack errors put Indiana on a 4-0 run. The set remained tied at 21-21, but Indiana scored thee straight points to take a 24-21 lead. The Bulls were able to fight off two set points to pull within 24-23, but a UB service error ended the set and gave Indiana a 2-1 lead in the match.
The two teams remained close early in the fourth set as things were tied 11-11, but Indiana went on a 6-2 run to take a 17-13 lead and it never looked back. The Bulls were able to pull within two at 19-17, but Indiana scored five straight points to take a 24-17 lead. Another UB service error ended the set and the match.
Bishop finished with a team-high 14 kills, but had 12 errors on the evening. Junior Amber Hatchett also finished in double figures in kill with 11. Lain added seven off the bench, while junior Megan Lipski and senior Sable Staller each finished with five. Junior Marissa Prinzbach led the offense with 36 assists.
Defensively, UB finished with 48 digs, led by 12 from Lipski and 10 from freshman Niki Bozinoski. Prinzbach added nine. The Bulls had 15 total blocks, led by nine from Lain, who had eight assists and one solo. Staller added five total blocks, while Bishop, Prinzbach and Hatchett each had three.
The Bulls will play twice tomorrow at the Hoosier Classic beginning with a 10:00 am match against Butler. UB will then face Western Illinois at 5:00 pm.
