Thursday, February 18
Buffalo, NY
6:00 pm
0-9,0-9MAC
1
vs
3
Central Michigan
4-5,4-5MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Central Mich.
25
27
18
25
3
Buffalo
21
25
25
21
1
Bulls Go Toe To Toe with Preseason MAC West Favorite
2/18/2021 9:03:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo volleyball team took it to a fourth set for the first time this season, but the Bulls were unable to defeat the preseason MAC West favorites as UB dropped a 3-1 decision to Central Michigan.
The Chippewas took the contest 25-21, 27-25, 18-25, 25-21 despite the Bulls outhitting Central Michigan, .289 to .257. However, the Bulls were undone by 14 service errors. In the opening set, CMU got out to a 17-11 lead, but the Bulls were able to fight all the way back as a kill from senior Lexi Nordmann pulled UB within two at 22-20. However, the Chippewas took the opening set, 25-21.
In the second set, Central Michigan again led early by taking a 12-5 advantage, but the Bulls went on an 8-2 run as a kill from sophomore Abby Leigh pulled the Bulls with one at 14-13. A kill by freshman Milla Malik pulled the Bulls ahead 22-21, but CMU would regain a 24-23 lead. Malik fought off a set point with a kill and the Bulls took a 25-24 lead on a kill from Nordmann, but CMU responded scoring the final three points to take the second set 27-25.
It was all Buffalo in the third as UB hit .355, taking their first set of the year. The Bulls got a huge boost from freshman Emilie Davis at the service line as the Bulls scored eight straight points, taking an 11-3 lead. The Bulls never backed down, as Buffalo never led by less than six points for the remainder of the set, winning it 25-18, pulling within 2-1 in the match.
However, in the fourth Central Michigan got out to the quick start, opening on a 7-2 run. The Chippewas led 11-3 when the Bulls went on a quick 8-3 run, pulling within 14-11. Every time the Bulls pulled close; Central Michigan had an answer. The Chippewas led 20-15 when UB scored three straight including back-to-back kills from freshman Emma Gielas. CMU would regain a four-point lead at 23-19 when UB scored two straight to pull within 23-21, but the Chippewas scored the final two points to take the match.
Three Bulls reached double figures in kills, led by a match and career high 18 kills from Malik, who had just two errors on 37 total swings. Gielas finished with 14 kills, while Nordmann added 10.
Leigh had nine kills, while sophomore Courtney Okwara finished with eight as she hit .538 on the night. Junior Kyndal Bacon set her career high with 48 assists.
Defensively, Leigh led the Bulls with 15 digs, while sophomore Jenna Sonnenberg finished with 13. Bacon chipped in 12 digs and Malik had nine.
The Bulls out blocked Central Michigan 10.5 to 4.0 as UB was led by six blocks from Okwara and five blocks from Leigh and Gielas. Nordmann added four.
Buffalo and Central Michigan will meet up again on Friday afternoon at 2pm.
The Chippewas took the contest 25-21, 27-25, 18-25, 25-21 despite the Bulls outhitting Central Michigan, .289 to .257. However, the Bulls were undone by 14 service errors. In the opening set, CMU got out to a 17-11 lead, but the Bulls were able to fight all the way back as a kill from senior Lexi Nordmann pulled UB within two at 22-20. However, the Chippewas took the opening set, 25-21.
In the second set, Central Michigan again led early by taking a 12-5 advantage, but the Bulls went on an 8-2 run as a kill from sophomore Abby Leigh pulled the Bulls with one at 14-13. A kill by freshman Milla Malik pulled the Bulls ahead 22-21, but CMU would regain a 24-23 lead. Malik fought off a set point with a kill and the Bulls took a 25-24 lead on a kill from Nordmann, but CMU responded scoring the final three points to take the second set 27-25.
It was all Buffalo in the third as UB hit .355, taking their first set of the year. The Bulls got a huge boost from freshman Emilie Davis at the service line as the Bulls scored eight straight points, taking an 11-3 lead. The Bulls never backed down, as Buffalo never led by less than six points for the remainder of the set, winning it 25-18, pulling within 2-1 in the match.
However, in the fourth Central Michigan got out to the quick start, opening on a 7-2 run. The Chippewas led 11-3 when the Bulls went on a quick 8-3 run, pulling within 14-11. Every time the Bulls pulled close; Central Michigan had an answer. The Chippewas led 20-15 when UB scored three straight including back-to-back kills from freshman Emma Gielas. CMU would regain a four-point lead at 23-19 when UB scored two straight to pull within 23-21, but the Chippewas scored the final two points to take the match.
Three Bulls reached double figures in kills, led by a match and career high 18 kills from Malik, who had just two errors on 37 total swings. Gielas finished with 14 kills, while Nordmann added 10.
Leigh had nine kills, while sophomore Courtney Okwara finished with eight as she hit .538 on the night. Junior Kyndal Bacon set her career high with 48 assists.
Defensively, Leigh led the Bulls with 15 digs, while sophomore Jenna Sonnenberg finished with 13. Bacon chipped in 12 digs and Malik had nine.
The Bulls out blocked Central Michigan 10.5 to 4.0 as UB was led by six blocks from Okwara and five blocks from Leigh and Gielas. Nordmann added four.
Buffalo and Central Michigan will meet up again on Friday afternoon at 2pm.
Team Stats
CMU
UB
Kills
56
59
Errors
18
18
Attempts
144
142
Hitting %
.264
.289
Points
64
73.5
Assists
51
56
Aces
4
4
Blocks
4
10.5
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
18
Aces
1
Blocks
0
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
5
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's VolleyballRS
/ Women's VolleyballOH/MB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
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