Bulls Storm Their Way to Victory Over Columbia and St. John’s

Saturday, September 16

Queens, N.Y.

11 a.m.

Columbia

Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UBBulls.com

Bulls Storm Their Way to Victory Over Columbia and St. John’s

9/16/2023 8:16:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Zach Monell

QUEENS, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo women's volleyball team (10-2, 0-0 MAC) finished second out of five team at the Red Storm Invitational on Saturday. The Bulls defeated the Columbia Lions (2-7, 0-0 Ivy) in straight sets to open the day. In the final match of the invite, UB beat the St. John's Red Storm (8-4, 0-0 BIG EAST) in four sets.

The Bulls have reached the 10-win mark for the fourth time under Head Coach Scott Smith's direction. He's just the third coach in program history to do so in their Division I era.

Courtney Okwara and Maria Futey were named to the All-Tournament Team as they helped the Bulls go 2-1 on the weekend.

COLUMBIA RECAP
The Bulls came out victorious with a straight set victory over the Columbia Lions on Saturday morning, 25-19, 25-9, 25-12. This marked the sixth time this season the Bulls won in straight sets, the most of any MAC program.

The UB offense spread the wealth as Stacia Gollogly (8), Abby Leigh (8), Lauren Otten (7), and Emma Gielas (6) each had at least six kills. Mandy Leigh recorded her seventh double-double of the season with 27 assists and 10 digs. Maria Futey had a match-high 17 digs. Getting in on the action was Liv Gravatt, who had a career-high seven assists, and Chloe Brown.

As a team, the Bulls outhit the Lions, .271 to .010 while racking up 40 kills to Columbia's 18. Maurine Calande had a season-high four service aces with Katrin Trebichavska adding three more. In total, UB had a season-high 11 services.

The Lions pounced to their largest lead of the game with early on at 4-1, but after tying the set at six, it was all UB. The Bulls went on a 5-0 run to take an 11-6 lead. The Bulls sustained a comfortable lead the rest of the way as they won the set, 25-19. Trebichavska had all three of her aces in the set.

The Bulls made sure the second set was quick. After being tied at two, they only allowed Columbia to get seven point the rest of the way. The stout UB defense had two blocks while the Lions had a hitting percentage of -.065. The Bulls had 14 kills with a hitting percentage of .414, a match high.

In the third set, the Bulls capitalized on 14 total Columbia errors. On the day, Columbia had 36 errors. Manoela Forlin got in on the attack with two kills in the lone set she appeared in. The Bulls ran away with the match-clinching set, 25-12.

ST. JOHN'S RECAP
The Bulls dropped the hammer against host St. John's in the final match of the invite. The Bulls hit at a clip of .333 while limiting the Red Storm to .206. After setting a season-high 11 aces against the Columbia Lions, UB had 13 aces against St. John's.

Emma Gielas and Katrin Trebichavska led the Bulls with 11 kills each. Maria Futey came up big defensively with 13 digs and a perfect 15-for-15 on receptions. Courtney Okwara had a whopping career-high six block assists on the night. As a team, the Bulls combined for 10 blocks to St. John's 5.

The entire match was tight as the Bulls faced solid competition against the Red Storm. Despite outhitting St. John's, .320 to .233, the Red Storm took the first set, 25-21. It was a back and forth set until the Red Storm started to create some separation. St. John's closed the set by winning three of the final four points.

The Bulls' consistent offense paid dividends the rest of the match. UB hit .343 in the second set where four Bulls had at least three kills. UB forced 10 errors while getting four aces. The Bulls saw themselves on the better end of an 8-4 run, forcing St. John's to call their final timeout up 15-13. With Futey at the serve, the Bulls found a grove as they increased their lead to 20-15. The Red Storm crept back into it as the Bulls had four chances to clinch the set. Eventually, the Bulls won the set, 25-21.

UB's offense kept clicking in the third set as they took an early 6-3 lead. St. John's fought back and tied the set numerous timed before the Bulls secured a 17-15 lead. It was all Buffalo the rest of the way as they took the set, 25-21, courtesy of a Gielas kill.

The Bulls called game in the fourth set as St. John's hit a match-low .143. UB took advantage the Red Storm miscues which included 14 errors. After UB took a 3-0 lead, St. John's called a timeout. After tying the set at three, UB and St. John's traded points until UB went on a 4-1 run to lead 10-7. Tied at 11, the Bulls shutdown any chance the Red Storm had of forcing a fifth set. UB didn't trail the rest of the way and outscored St. John's 14-6 to win the match.

"Going into the matches today we knew we had to have a different mindset from the service line and with our attack," stated Head Coach Scott Smith. "We applied great pressure in both areas which allowed us to establish a more solid block. Our passing picked up when we needed it, and we were able to run a more balanced offense. I am really happy with our preseason and our preparation for conference play."

The Bulls are back in action on Friday, Sept. 22 as they open MAC play ay Kent State (4-7, 0-0 MAC).