7-19, 6-8MAC
Miami (OH)
18-9, 10-4,MAC
Bulls Fall On Senior Day; Still Clinch Tournament Berth
11/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York volleyball team clinched its second straight MAC Tournament berth on Saturday evening despite falling to Miami (OH), 3-0, in the home finale for the Bulls. UB clinched the berth after Kent State defeated Eastern Michigan this evening. With a 6-8 MAC record, the Bulls and Eagles could still finish with the same record at the end of the year, but the Bulls hold the tiebreaker via the head-to-head win two weeks ago.
The RedHawks, who improved to 10-4 in conference play, took the match, 25-19, 25-22, 25-10 as Miami hit .347 for the match. The teams remained tied at 8-8 early on in the opening set, but the RedHawks opened a 17-12 lead. UB pulled within 21-17, but got no closer as Miami took it 25-19.
The RedHawks took an 18-14 lead in the second before the Bulls were able to pull back within one, going on a 4-1 run, capped off on a kill from senior Akeila Lain. The RedHawks went back up 24-18 and the Bulls were able to fight off four set points before a RedHawk kill clinched the set. After the break, Miami continued to play well, winning the final set, 25-10.
"I am disappointed in to tonight's result, but looking at the big picture I am happy for our team, especially this senior class, that we can make it back to the MAC Tournament," said head coach Blair Brown Lipsitz. "We have come a long way this season, and while we are excited for this opportunity, we know we still have a lot of work left."
Senior Megan Lipski led the Bulls with nine kills and just two errors, while Lain added seven and sophomore Cassie Shado and freshman Valisha Watkins each had six. Freshman setter Madison Clark added a match-high 31 assists.
Defensively, Lipski and sophomore Tessa Ooyama each finished with 11 digs, while freshman Abby Beecher added nine.
Prior to tonight's match, UB honored its three seniors: Lipski, Lain and setter Marissa Prinzbach.
The Bulls close out the regular season next weekend beginning with a road contest at Ohio on Friday night.
