Sunday, November 20
Muncie, IN
7:00 pm
19-12,10-8MAC
3
vs
1
#3 Ohio
19-11,13-5MAC
1
2
3
4
F
Buffalo
25
22
25
25
3
Ohio
23
25
23
21
1
Bulls Advance to MAC Semifinal after Defeating Ohio
11/20/2022 10:54:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
MUNCIE, Ind. – The University at Buffalo women's volleyball team (19-10, 10-8 MAC) defeated No. 3-seed Ohio (19-10, 13-5 MAC) in their MAC Tournament quarterfinal matchup on Sunday evening. The Bulls took the match in four sets, 25-23, 25-22, 25-23, 25-21.
The Bulls entered the MAC Tournament in dramatic fashion as they won their match on Wednesday and had to wait for Western Michigan to take down Northern Illinois to clinch the final spot. Buffalo and Ohio split the season series, with both matches going five sets.
In total, there were 25 ties and eight lead changes.
In the first set the Bulls trailed for the majority of the time. Down by as many as seven points, the chipped away and finally took a 20-19 lead. Once they claimed the lead, the didn't let it go. Bulls took the set, 25-23. Buffalo finished the set with 18 kills as Ohio had 13. Cali Assaley finished with six of Buffalo's kills with Courtney Okwara (5), Katrin Trebichavska (4), Emma Gielas (2), and Abby Leigh (1) following her lead.
Buffalo dropped the second set as they had an overall hitting percentage of .171 as Ohio hit .257. The set was tight, but it opened up once Ohio took the 18-12 lead. The Bulls battled and forced Ohio to take a timeout at 23-20, but it was too little too late.
The third set had no room for error as in just this one set, there were 17 ties and four lead changes. Ohio's biggest lead in the set was three at 13-10. The Bulls largest lead in the set was when they won it at 25-23. They had three one-point leads throughout the set. The Bulls had a whopping 18 kills in the set with Abby Leigh finishing with two service aces. Okwara finished the set with a .556 attack percentage as she had five kills.
Up two sets to one, the Bulls laid on the gas to close the match out. Buffalo led by as much as six points in the set. Ohio started to make a comeback as Buffalo was within reach of taking the set and match. At 24-21, the Bulls took a timeout to slow the Bobcats, and Okwara put the match away with a kill. Trebichavska had four aces in just the fourth set.
Mandy Leigh finished with 51 assists (12.75 per set) on Sunday evening. The Bulls had 10 more kills than the Bobcats and edged them 8-3 in service aces. Okwara finished the match with a .556 hitting percentage and 16 kills. Trebichavska added 14 kills for the Bulls.
"I'm really proud of the way the team adjusted the game plan to stay competitive," stated Head Coach Scott Smith. "This was such a great team win where everyone stepped up and contributed. Abby [Leigh] and Courtney [Okwara] came up huge for us. Katrin [Trebichavska] attacked and served really well tonight."
The Bulls are back in action tomorrow night as they take on No. 2-seed Bowling Green at 7 p.m. in the MAC Tournament Semifinal.
The Bulls entered the MAC Tournament in dramatic fashion as they won their match on Wednesday and had to wait for Western Michigan to take down Northern Illinois to clinch the final spot. Buffalo and Ohio split the season series, with both matches going five sets.
In total, there were 25 ties and eight lead changes.
In the first set the Bulls trailed for the majority of the time. Down by as many as seven points, the chipped away and finally took a 20-19 lead. Once they claimed the lead, the didn't let it go. Bulls took the set, 25-23. Buffalo finished the set with 18 kills as Ohio had 13. Cali Assaley finished with six of Buffalo's kills with Courtney Okwara (5), Katrin Trebichavska (4), Emma Gielas (2), and Abby Leigh (1) following her lead.
Buffalo dropped the second set as they had an overall hitting percentage of .171 as Ohio hit .257. The set was tight, but it opened up once Ohio took the 18-12 lead. The Bulls battled and forced Ohio to take a timeout at 23-20, but it was too little too late.
The third set had no room for error as in just this one set, there were 17 ties and four lead changes. Ohio's biggest lead in the set was three at 13-10. The Bulls largest lead in the set was when they won it at 25-23. They had three one-point leads throughout the set. The Bulls had a whopping 18 kills in the set with Abby Leigh finishing with two service aces. Okwara finished the set with a .556 attack percentage as she had five kills.
Up two sets to one, the Bulls laid on the gas to close the match out. Buffalo led by as much as six points in the set. Ohio started to make a comeback as Buffalo was within reach of taking the set and match. At 24-21, the Bulls took a timeout to slow the Bobcats, and Okwara put the match away with a kill. Trebichavska had four aces in just the fourth set.
Mandy Leigh finished with 51 assists (12.75 per set) on Sunday evening. The Bulls had 10 more kills than the Bobcats and edged them 8-3 in service aces. Okwara finished the match with a .556 hitting percentage and 16 kills. Trebichavska added 14 kills for the Bulls.
"I'm really proud of the way the team adjusted the game plan to stay competitive," stated Head Coach Scott Smith. "This was such a great team win where everyone stepped up and contributed. Abby [Leigh] and Courtney [Okwara] came up huge for us. Katrin [Trebichavska] attacked and served really well tonight."
The Bulls are back in action tomorrow night as they take on No. 2-seed Bowling Green at 7 p.m. in the MAC Tournament Semifinal.
Team Stats
UB
Ohio
Kills
64
54
Errors
23
20
Attempts
156
130
Hitting %
.263
.262
Points
82
66
Assists
62
53
Aces
8
3
Blocks
10
9
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
16
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
14
Aces
4
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
2
Blocks
7
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's VolleyballOH/MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's VolleyballMB
/ Women's VolleyballOH
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