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Thursday, October 5
Buffalo, N.Y.
6 p.m.
vs
Central Michigan
Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UBBulls.com
Bulls Welcome the Chippewas and Eagles for Weeknight MACtion
10/4/2023 9:35:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo women's volleyball team (13-3, 3-1 MAC) will host the Central Michigan Chippewas (8-9, 2-3 MAC) and the Eastern Michigan Eagles (2-15, 0-5 MAC) to begin the busy weekend at UB. The Bulls will play the Chippewas on Thursday followed by the Eagles on Friday, both matches are set to start at 6 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
The Bulls are off to a 3-1 start in MAC play, their best start in program history. Currently, UB sits third in the MAC standings and first in the MAC East Division. Historically, the Chippewas have dominated the series as they hold a 20-8 overall record against the Bulls. Last season, UB defeated Central Michigan in five sets. Head Coach Scott Smith is 2-3 against the Chippewas. The Eagles are 22-8 against UB, but under his tenure, Coach Smith is 3-2 against Eastern Michigan.
The Bulls are coming off a series split against the Ohio Bobcats last weekend. The Bobcats won Friday's match with a 3-0 decision, but the Bulls stormed back to take the second match, 3-1. In Saturday's match, the Bulls finished with a season-high 16 blocks. Abby Leigh had nine blocks, tying her career high. The last time the Bulls had 16 or more blocks was on September 4, 2021, in a 3-2 win over Troy when they had 17.
After a great weekend for UB, Abby Leigh was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. She had 14 total blocks over the weekend, good for 2.00 blocks per set. She added 14 kills for 2.00 per set, one ace, five digs and 26.0 points. This marks Leigh's first weekly honor of the season and second in her career. The Bulls have taken home at least one weekly award over the last five weeks and a total of six on the season. This was UB's first defensive honor since October 24, 2022, when Maria Futey took home the award.
On the season, the Bulls are 9-2 when two players have 10 or more kills in a match. The only losses came on the road at Xavier and against Ohio. Katrin Trebichavska leads the team with 10 matches with 10 or more kills. There have been 14 double-doubles on the year by the Bulls. Mandy Leigh leads the team with nine, followed by Manoela Forlin (2), Katrin Trebichavska (2), and Maurine Calande (1).
Buffalo has the top-2 hitters in the MAC with Courtney Okwara and Abby Leigh. Okwara ranks second in the nation at .490 with A. Leigh at 43rd and second in the MAC with a rate of .393. The Bulls are just one of six teams in the country to have two hitters in the top-50 in hitting percentage. UB is the only mid-major to accomplish this as the other Power Five teams include Florida State, Maryland, Wisconsin, Ole Miss, and Duke.
2023 three-time MAC East Setter of the Week Mandy Leigh is 88th in the NCAA (third in the MAC) averaging 9.47 assists per set. Katrin Trebichavska has 33 service aces on the season, good for ninth in the country and second in the MAC. Her 0.62 aces per set is seventh in the NCAA and leads all MAC players. As a team, they're one of the best offenses and defenses in the country. The Bulls have a .270 hitting percentage, which is 26th in the country. They limit their opposition to just a .177 hitting percentage, good for 70th in the NCAA. Both marks are first in the MAC.
Following the volleyball matches, football will host Central Michigan on Saturday at 2 p.m., followed by the women's soccer team hosting Ball State at 1 p.m.
The Bulls are off to a 3-1 start in MAC play, their best start in program history. Currently, UB sits third in the MAC standings and first in the MAC East Division. Historically, the Chippewas have dominated the series as they hold a 20-8 overall record against the Bulls. Last season, UB defeated Central Michigan in five sets. Head Coach Scott Smith is 2-3 against the Chippewas. The Eagles are 22-8 against UB, but under his tenure, Coach Smith is 3-2 against Eastern Michigan.
The Bulls are coming off a series split against the Ohio Bobcats last weekend. The Bobcats won Friday's match with a 3-0 decision, but the Bulls stormed back to take the second match, 3-1. In Saturday's match, the Bulls finished with a season-high 16 blocks. Abby Leigh had nine blocks, tying her career high. The last time the Bulls had 16 or more blocks was on September 4, 2021, in a 3-2 win over Troy when they had 17.
After a great weekend for UB, Abby Leigh was named MAC East Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. She had 14 total blocks over the weekend, good for 2.00 blocks per set. She added 14 kills for 2.00 per set, one ace, five digs and 26.0 points. This marks Leigh's first weekly honor of the season and second in her career. The Bulls have taken home at least one weekly award over the last five weeks and a total of six on the season. This was UB's first defensive honor since October 24, 2022, when Maria Futey took home the award.
On the season, the Bulls are 9-2 when two players have 10 or more kills in a match. The only losses came on the road at Xavier and against Ohio. Katrin Trebichavska leads the team with 10 matches with 10 or more kills. There have been 14 double-doubles on the year by the Bulls. Mandy Leigh leads the team with nine, followed by Manoela Forlin (2), Katrin Trebichavska (2), and Maurine Calande (1).
Buffalo has the top-2 hitters in the MAC with Courtney Okwara and Abby Leigh. Okwara ranks second in the nation at .490 with A. Leigh at 43rd and second in the MAC with a rate of .393. The Bulls are just one of six teams in the country to have two hitters in the top-50 in hitting percentage. UB is the only mid-major to accomplish this as the other Power Five teams include Florida State, Maryland, Wisconsin, Ole Miss, and Duke.
2023 three-time MAC East Setter of the Week Mandy Leigh is 88th in the NCAA (third in the MAC) averaging 9.47 assists per set. Katrin Trebichavska has 33 service aces on the season, good for ninth in the country and second in the MAC. Her 0.62 aces per set is seventh in the NCAA and leads all MAC players. As a team, they're one of the best offenses and defenses in the country. The Bulls have a .270 hitting percentage, which is 26th in the country. They limit their opposition to just a .177 hitting percentage, good for 70th in the NCAA. Both marks are first in the MAC.
Following the volleyball matches, football will host Central Michigan on Saturday at 2 p.m., followed by the women's soccer team hosting Ball State at 1 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
OH/MB
/ Women's Volleyball
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/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
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