Thursday, September 26
Buffalo, NY
6 pm
vs
Akron
Bulls Begin MAC Play Thursday Night At Alumni Arena
9/25/2019 4:27:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo volleyball team will continue its five-match homestand on Thursday night as the Bulls begin Mid-American Conference play by hosting Akron. UB will then host Toledo on Saturday night. Both matches are set to begin at 6pm.
Buffalo enters the weekend with a 4-8 record following a 2-1 performance at the Blue and White Classic last weekend, scoring victories over St. Francis (PA) and Canisius. Senior Kristina Nieves and sophomore Paige Beck were named to the All-Tournament team following the weekend.
Senior Rachel Sanks leads UB in kills this season with 126, while fellow senior Polina Prokudina has added 117 kills. Scout McLerran leads Buffalo with 303 assists, followed by 116 from freshman Emma Puzausky. Defensively, Beck has a team-high 158 digs, while the Bulls are currently one of the top blocking teams in the MAC, averaging 2.07 a set. Junior Lexi Nordmann paces that category with 1.06 blocks per set.
The Zips are under the direction of fifth-year head coach Tom Hanna, who has coached his team to a 7-4 record through 11 games this season. Akron is currently riding a five-game winning streak, including having won both the Akron Invitational and the North Dakota Classic. Senior Ashley Richardson currently leads the Zips with 106 kills and a .416 hitting percentage (first in the MAC), as well as leading the Zips with 36 blocks on defense. Junior Alexis Adleta is second on the team with 86 kills. Junior setter Emily Weigand leads the team with 368 assists, while defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits paces the back-row defense with 143 digs.
Toledo will host Ball State on Thursday night before making the trek to Western New York on Saturday. The Rockets are 7-5 on the year, which included a six-match winning streak in mid-September. Zoe Birnbrich leads Toledo with 118 kills, while Megan Beasley leads the team with 364 assists. Defensively, two Rockets have over 100 digs, led by 163 from Rhyen Neal and 122 from Ryann Jaqua. Birnbrich also leads Toledo with 33 blocks.
Thursday match will air live on ESPN+, while Saturday's will stream free on YouTube. All matches at Alumni Arena are free to the general public.
Buffalo enters the weekend with a 4-8 record following a 2-1 performance at the Blue and White Classic last weekend, scoring victories over St. Francis (PA) and Canisius. Senior Kristina Nieves and sophomore Paige Beck were named to the All-Tournament team following the weekend.
Senior Rachel Sanks leads UB in kills this season with 126, while fellow senior Polina Prokudina has added 117 kills. Scout McLerran leads Buffalo with 303 assists, followed by 116 from freshman Emma Puzausky. Defensively, Beck has a team-high 158 digs, while the Bulls are currently one of the top blocking teams in the MAC, averaging 2.07 a set. Junior Lexi Nordmann paces that category with 1.06 blocks per set.
The Zips are under the direction of fifth-year head coach Tom Hanna, who has coached his team to a 7-4 record through 11 games this season. Akron is currently riding a five-game winning streak, including having won both the Akron Invitational and the North Dakota Classic. Senior Ashley Richardson currently leads the Zips with 106 kills and a .416 hitting percentage (first in the MAC), as well as leading the Zips with 36 blocks on defense. Junior Alexis Adleta is second on the team with 86 kills. Junior setter Emily Weigand leads the team with 368 assists, while defensive specialist Taylor Sharrits paces the back-row defense with 143 digs.
Toledo will host Ball State on Thursday night before making the trek to Western New York on Saturday. The Rockets are 7-5 on the year, which included a six-match winning streak in mid-September. Zoe Birnbrich leads Toledo with 118 kills, while Megan Beasley leads the team with 364 assists. Defensively, two Rockets have over 100 digs, led by 163 from Rhyen Neal and 122 from Ryann Jaqua. Birnbrich also leads Toledo with 33 blocks.
Thursday match will air live on ESPN+, while Saturday's will stream free on YouTube. All matches at Alumni Arena are free to the general public.
Players Mentioned
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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