Friday, September 15
Queens, N.Y.
1 p.m.
vs
No. 16 Arkansas
Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UBBulls.com
Bulls Travel East to Queens for the Red Storm Invitational
9/14/2023 9:59:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo women's volleyball team (8-1, 0-0 MAC) will travel east to Queens, N.Y. for the Red Storm Invitational hosted by St. John's. The Invite will run from Friday, Sept. 15 through Saturday, Sept. 16.
The Bulls will open their competition against the nationally ranked Arkansas Razorbacks (7-2, 0-0 SEC) at 1 p.m. on Friday. The Razorbacks check in at 16th in the latest AVCA Coaches' Poll. That will be the Bulls only game on Friday as they'll have a double-header on Saturday. UB will play Columbia (2-5, 0-0 Ivy) at 11 a.m. on Saturday and will close the invite against St. John's (7-2, 0-0 BIG EAST) at 5 p.m. The Bulls and Red Storm can be watched on FloSports.
The last time the Bulls played a nationally ranked team was on Sept. 14, 2018, as they lost to the Penn State Nittany Lions in a 3-0 decision. The Bulls lost to the Razorbacks 3-0 in their lone meeting on Sept. 8, 2018. UB holds a 1-0 series lead on the Columbia Lions with the only match occurring 25 years ago on Sept. 19, 1998. The St. John's Red Storm hold a 4-3 series edge over the Bulls. UB won the last meeting in five sets on Sept. 1, 2018.
"We are looking forward to this final weekend of non-conference play," stated Head Coach Scott Smith. "The competition will be extremely tough with Arkansas, St. John's and Columbia. Arkansas is ranked in the top-25 and playing extremely consistent high-level ball that will really test our abilities. St. John's is one of the top BIG EAST programs. Columbia has some strong athletes and they have been close in a couple tough matches this season and will definitely be hungry for a win. We are executing with a lot of confidence in all areas of the game and are excited for these final opportunities to work out the wrinkles before starting MAC play."
The Bulls are coming off a solid weekend in Cincinnati where the Bulls were crowned Xavier Invitational Champions. Abby Leigh earned All-Tournament MVP honors with Mandy Leigh and Katrin Trebichavska earning All-Tournament honors. The Bulls defeated the Missouri Tigers in straight sets, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18, to open the tournament. This marked the first victory over an SEC team and beating a Power Five program in straight sets in program history.
Their performances in Cincinnati led to two Bulls earning MAC East Player of the Week honors. Mandy Leigh finished the weekend with 110 assists, 26 digs, seven kills, three service aces, and one block. As a team, the Bulls had a hitting percentage of .296 for the weekend. Trebichavska led the Bulls offensively this weekend with 54.5 points. She racked up a team-high 39 kills and 12 aces, including a season-high 18-kill performance against Xavier. She averaged 3.55 kills per set. This marks Leigh's second weekly honor of the season and sixth in her career. This is Trebichavska's first weekly honor in her career.
The Bulls have the top-two hitters in the Mid-American Conference with Courtney Okwara and Abby Leigh. Okwara checks in at fourth in the nation with an attack percentage of .523 (first in the MAC) with A. Leigh 41st at .418 (second in the MAC). Reigning two-week MAC East Setter of the Week Mandy Leigh is 79th in the NCAA (second in the MAC) averaging 9.55 assists per set. Defending MAC East Co-Offensive Player of the Week Katrin Trebichavska has 21 service aces on the season, good for eighth in the country and third in the MAC. Her 0.68 aces per set is 12th in the NCAA and first in the MAC. As a team, they're one of the best offenses and defenses in the country. The Bulls have a .276 hitting percentage, which is 29th in the country. They limit their opposition to just a .154 hitting percentage, good for 39th in the country. Both marks are first in the MAC.
RED STORM INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE
The Bulls will open their competition against the nationally ranked Arkansas Razorbacks (7-2, 0-0 SEC) at 1 p.m. on Friday. The Razorbacks check in at 16th in the latest AVCA Coaches' Poll. That will be the Bulls only game on Friday as they'll have a double-header on Saturday. UB will play Columbia (2-5, 0-0 Ivy) at 11 a.m. on Saturday and will close the invite against St. John's (7-2, 0-0 BIG EAST) at 5 p.m. The Bulls and Red Storm can be watched on FloSports.
The last time the Bulls played a nationally ranked team was on Sept. 14, 2018, as they lost to the Penn State Nittany Lions in a 3-0 decision. The Bulls lost to the Razorbacks 3-0 in their lone meeting on Sept. 8, 2018. UB holds a 1-0 series lead on the Columbia Lions with the only match occurring 25 years ago on Sept. 19, 1998. The St. John's Red Storm hold a 4-3 series edge over the Bulls. UB won the last meeting in five sets on Sept. 1, 2018.
"We are looking forward to this final weekend of non-conference play," stated Head Coach Scott Smith. "The competition will be extremely tough with Arkansas, St. John's and Columbia. Arkansas is ranked in the top-25 and playing extremely consistent high-level ball that will really test our abilities. St. John's is one of the top BIG EAST programs. Columbia has some strong athletes and they have been close in a couple tough matches this season and will definitely be hungry for a win. We are executing with a lot of confidence in all areas of the game and are excited for these final opportunities to work out the wrinkles before starting MAC play."
The Bulls are coming off a solid weekend in Cincinnati where the Bulls were crowned Xavier Invitational Champions. Abby Leigh earned All-Tournament MVP honors with Mandy Leigh and Katrin Trebichavska earning All-Tournament honors. The Bulls defeated the Missouri Tigers in straight sets, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18, to open the tournament. This marked the first victory over an SEC team and beating a Power Five program in straight sets in program history.
Their performances in Cincinnati led to two Bulls earning MAC East Player of the Week honors. Mandy Leigh finished the weekend with 110 assists, 26 digs, seven kills, three service aces, and one block. As a team, the Bulls had a hitting percentage of .296 for the weekend. Trebichavska led the Bulls offensively this weekend with 54.5 points. She racked up a team-high 39 kills and 12 aces, including a season-high 18-kill performance against Xavier. She averaged 3.55 kills per set. This marks Leigh's second weekly honor of the season and sixth in her career. This is Trebichavska's first weekly honor in her career.
The Bulls have the top-two hitters in the Mid-American Conference with Courtney Okwara and Abby Leigh. Okwara checks in at fourth in the nation with an attack percentage of .523 (first in the MAC) with A. Leigh 41st at .418 (second in the MAC). Reigning two-week MAC East Setter of the Week Mandy Leigh is 79th in the NCAA (second in the MAC) averaging 9.55 assists per set. Defending MAC East Co-Offensive Player of the Week Katrin Trebichavska has 21 service aces on the season, good for eighth in the country and third in the MAC. Her 0.68 aces per set is 12th in the NCAA and first in the MAC. As a team, they're one of the best offenses and defenses in the country. The Bulls have a .276 hitting percentage, which is 29th in the country. They limit their opposition to just a .154 hitting percentage, good for 39th in the country. Both marks are first in the MAC.
RED STORM INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE
- Friday, Sept. 15 – Buffalo vs. #16 Arkansas at 1 p.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 16 – Buffalo vs. Columbia at 11 a.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 16 – Buffalo at St. John's at 5 p.m.
Players Mentioned
OH/MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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