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University at Buffalo
1-12, 0-1MAC
Akron
7-7, 1-0MAC
Bulls Drop MAC Opener To Akron, 3-1
9/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, NY – After playing its first 12 matches away from Alumni Arena, The University at Buffalo, The State University of New York volleyball team played in front of its home crowd, but the Bulls were unable to capture a victory in their MAC opener, falling to Akron, 3-1, in front of 532 fans.
The Zips took the contest, 25-23, 16-25, 25-15, 25-16 as both teams hit over .300 in the match. Akron hit .398 over the four sets, while the Bulls hit .320, its highest total on the season. The first set was the tightest one of the night, despite the Bulls never leading in the set. The Bulls were able to pull as close as 24-23, but the Zips took the set. UB hit .429 in the opening set as it finished with 19 kills and just four errors on 35 swings.
The Bulls raced out to big lead in the second set as a kill from sophomore Cassie Shado gave the Bulls a 13-9 lead. UB extended its lead on a double block from Shado and senior Akeila Lain, putting it up 18-12. Senior Megan Lipski went on to have three of the final four kills in the set for the Bulls and freshman Megan Wernette put the finishing touches on the set win with a kill.
Despite the momentum going into the intermission, Akron came out and took the third set, 25-15, and the fourth set, 25-16, to clinch the match.
Lipski tied her career-high with 19 kills, while recording just three errors on 46 total swings. Shado had 11 kills and no errors, as she hit .458 for the match. Freshman Valisha Watkins added 13 kills and five errors. Senior Marissa Prinzbach ran the offense with 44 assists and two kills.
Defensively, Lipski led UB with 17 digs, which was a season high. Sophomore Tessa Ooyama added 10 digs, while Prinzbach added seven. UB had 6.0 total blocks, including five from Lain.
The Bulls remain home on Saturday night when they host Toledo at 7:30 pm. Those showing their ticket from the UB football game that afternoon will get into the match for free.
