.png&width=22&height=22&type=webp)
University at Buffalo
0-1
Penn State
1-0
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 18 | 12 | 16 | 0 |
| Penn State | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Bulls Hang Tough At Defending National Champion Penn State
8/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
STATE COLLEGE, PA – The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York volleyball team began its 2015 season and the Blair Brown Lipsitz era with a huge challenge on Friday night as the Bulls played the defending national champions and preseason number one, Penn State. Despite losing 3-0 in the match, the Bulls fought tough with the Nittany Lions all night.
Penn State took the match, 25-18, 25-12, 25-16, but not without a challenge from the youthful Bulls. In the opening set, Penn State scored the first two points before the Bulls answered on a 3-0 run to take their first lead of the match. Penn State took a 13-8 lead in the set, but the Bulls answered with five straight points, including a pair of service aces from senior Amber Hatchett, which tied the set back up at 13-13. The Nittany Lions went on an 8-3 run to take a 21-16 lead and UB was able to climb within 22-18 before Penn State scored the final three points of the set.
The Nittany Lions had their most dominant set in the second as they staked themselves out to a 20-9 lead and they won the set 25-12. However, UB was able to fight back in the third set and again make things difficult for the defending national champions.
The Bulls scored the first three points of the third set to take a 3-0 lead before Penn State tied things up. The Bulls went back ahead 6-3 following a kill from senior Megan Lipski, but Penn State again tied it up at 7-7. The Nittany Lions went on to take an 18-13 lead in the set, but UB kept within five at 20-15 on a kill from senior Akeila Lain. Penn State ended the set on a 5-1 run.
"This was such an outstanding atmosphere and a great experience for our team to start the season," said Lipsitz. "I am really proud of the way we fought all night and that is what we talked about all through the preseason. Now it is important that we continue that into tomorrow's matches."
Lain led the way with eight kills, while sophomore Cassie Shado had seven kills on 15 total swings. Lipski added five kills and nine digs, while Hatchett finished with four kills and a match-high three service aces, the first three of her career.
Defensively, sophomore Niki Bozinoski led the Bulls with 10 digs. As a team, UB dug just one fewer ball than Penn State. UB also finished with 3.0 total blocks, including two from Shado. Freshman Valisha Watkins, who picked up the start in her college debut, also had a block. Fellow freshman Raven Jordan also saw action for the Bulls.
For Lipsitz, not only was this her first match as a collegiate head coach, but it was also a return to her alma mater where she won four national championships. Lipsitz received a standing ovation from the crowd of 2,252 before the match.
UB returns to action tomorrow for a pair of matches at the Penn State Classic. The Bulls will face Villanova at 10:00 am and then face Stony Brook at 5:00 pm.
