0-5
Florida Int''l
4-3
Volleyball Wins USF Invite Following Saturday Sweep
9/6/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
TAMPA, FL – The University at Buffalo volleyball team picked up a pair of wins on Saturday, clinching its first in-season title of the season as they were crowned USF Invite Champions. The Bulls defeated Florida International, 3-1, and then went on to sweep South Carolina State, 3-0. The wins improve the Bulls to 4-3 on the year.
The Bulls picked up the first victory of the day as they defeated FIU, 25-18, 25-18, 26-28, 25-19. UB hit .252 for the contest, including .324 in the fourth set.
UB had a balanced attack in the victory as five players reached double figures in kills. Junior Tahleia Bishop led the way as she had a match-high 19 kills, while recording just four errors on 45 total attacks. Fellow junior Megan Lipski added 13 kills, while Akeila Lain added 11 kills. Senior Sable Staller and junior Amber Hatchett each added 10.
For the second straight match, the offense was run by junior Marissa Prinzbach, who finished with a team-best 55 assists, while adding 12 digs.
Defensively, the Bulls had five players in double figures in digs, led by 19 from Bishop, who fell just one kill and one dig short of the 20/20 day. Freshman Niki Bozinoski added 15 digs, while Lipski and Megan Lin each had 11.
The Bulls also finished with 10 total blocks, led by five from Hatchett and Lain, who each recorded a solo.
In the second match of the afternoon, UB played all 13 healthy bodies as they swept South Carolina State, 25-18, 25-9, 25-19. The Bulls had their best set in the second as they hit .400, recording just one hitting error. UB got out to a 12-3 lead in the second set and it continued to build on its lead as a kill from Bishop put the Bulls up 20-5. UB went on to win the set 25-9.
In the third set, the Bulls were able to rest some of their starters as freshmen Hannah Varley, Cassie Shado, and Ana Paula Kuthy Rodriguez all got the start. Redshirt sophomore Danielle Marrotto also saw action. The third set remained close as South Carolina State held a 15-13 lead, but a quick 3-0 run put the Bulls ahead. The set remained tied at 18-18, but the Bulls used a 7-1 run to clinch the set and the match.
Bishop added another 10 kills and just one error as her and Shado tied for team-high honors. For the freshman Shado, the 10 kills were a career high. In all, seven different players recorded kills, including seven from Lain.
Eight different players recorded digs against the Bulldogs, led by seven from three different players. The Bulls had four total blocks, including three from Lain.
"After losing a tough match on Friday, we rebounded well and played some of the best volleyball we've played this season," said head coach Reed Sunahara. "Hopefully we can build on this and ride the momentum over to next weekend."
Bishop took home MVP honors as she had 51 kills over the three matches, while adding 39 digs. Staller and Lipski were also both named to the All-Tournament Team.
The Bulls remain on the road next weekend as they head to Chicago for the UIC Tournament. The Bulls will play Western Illinois, Eastern Kentucky and the host Flames.
