Friday, September 8
Cincinnati, Ohio
10 a.m.
7-0,0-0MAC
3
vs
0
Missouri
5-2,0-0SEC
1
2
3
F
Missouri
18
19
18
0
Buffalo
25
25
25
3
Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UBBulls.com
Bulls Defeat Missouri as they Split Opening Day Competition at Xavier Invitational
9/8/2023 9:57:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Bulls earns first program win against an SEC school
CINCINNATI – The University at Buffalo women's volleyball team (7-1, 0-0 MAC) saw their win streak come to an end at the Xavier Invitational on Friday. The Bulls split their double-header as they defeated the Missouri Tigers (6-2, 0-0 SEC), while dropping their first contest of the season to the Xavier Musketeers (4-3, 0-0 BIG EAST). Their win against the Missouri Tigers marked the program's first victory over an SEC program. The seven-game win streak was the longest to start a season since 2013. It was just the third time in program history where the Bulls started 7-0, with just 2013 (12-0) and 1989 (13-0) to be longer.
MISSOURI RECAP
The Bulls stormed out of the gate against the Missouri Tigers on Friday morning taking the contest in straight sets, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18. It was such a dominant performance that there were only eight ties and one lead change in the match. The storyline of the match was UB's defense. The Tigers were limited to a hitting percentage of .094, as UB hit at .341. In total, Missouri had 31 total errors.
The Bulls struggled on serves, as they had nine service errors.
Katrin Trebichavska led all players with 11 kills as Abby Leigh secured 10 kills. Julianna Lopez had a match-high 11 digs on the morning. As a team, the Bulls had seven blocks to Missouri's one.
Tied at two to start the first set, the Bulls went on an 8-1 run to take a 10-3 lead over the Tigers. In the run, A. Leigh and Trebichavska had two kills each. The run came to an end after a service error which led Mizzou to a get within three at 11-8. Whenever the Tigers got close, the Bulls made sure to increase their lead. The Bulls took the set, 25-18. A. Leigh finished with six kills in the first set alone.
Mizzou snatched their only lead of the match with a 1-0 lead in the second set. The Bulls held a three-point lead in the early stages of the set, as the Tigers and Bulls practically traded points to make it a 15-14 Buffalo lead. That was the closest Mizzou got to taking the lead as the Bulls pulled away. Of the Bulls' final 10 points, six came off of Tiger errors. Mizzou had a hitting percentage of just .067 to Buffalo's .250.
After tying the set at one, it was all Buffalo. The Bulls had their largest lead reach seven in the match. The offensive attack was spread out for the Bulls as six different Bulls had a kill in the set. UB hit .409 in the set, limiting Mizzou to just .062.
"Obviously, this is a big win for our program," stated Head Coach Scott Smith. "Even more so that we set the tone right from the first swing and never let up. Every player executed when they were called on and responded to all the changes we were seeing on the other side of the net. We are playing confidently and consistently and will need to continue that throughout the rest of this tournament."
XAVIER RECAP
The Bulls and Musketeers met at last year's UB Invite, where the Musketeers won, 3-2. The Bulls looked for revenge and to keep their win streak alive. However, Xavier had other plans. The Musketeers edged out the Bulls in a five-set thriller, 16-25, 25-18, 28-30, 25-23, 7-15.
Service errors carried over into the evening for the Bulls as they had 15 against the Musketeers. It was fairly even on the attack as Xavier held a slight edge at .224 to .217. Trebichavska had a match-high 18 kills and 23.5 points. Maria Futey had 23 digs for the Bulls, also a match high.
The Bulls got down early and couldn't claw their way back into the first set. With their eight kills, they also had eight errors to Xavier's 12 kills and four errors. The second set was a complete turnaround as the Bulls hit .324 to Xavier's .000. The Musketeers kept it close until the Bulls went on a 5-1 run to take a 12-5 lead. Up 17-8, Xavier took a timeout, but it was too little too late as the Bulls continued their momentum, winning the set, 25-18.
The Bulls were up by four in the beginning of the third set, but Xavier tied the set at 10 after an ace. The Musketeers' 4-1 run led to a UB timeout. Xavier took a 15-12 lead before Trebichavska's serves took over. The Bulls took a 20-16 lead and looked to take a 2-1 set lead. Up 23-19, Xavier took their final timeout of the set to slow down the Bulls. Stalling the Bulls worked as it was now a 23-22 game. The Bulls got it to set point until the Musketeers tied and took a 25-24 lead. It was a nail biter down the stretch as Xavier now led 29-28. It looked as though the Bulls tied the set at 29, but under further review, the Musketeers blocked as attack that did hit the line. Xavier won, 30-28.
The Bulls bounced back in the fourth set as they forced Xavier to eight attack errors. This set alone had 12 ties and seven lead changes, the most on the night. Trebichavska had six kills in the set. Looking to close out the match, Xavier was up 22-21. After winning the next two points, the Musketeers called a timeout. The Bulls won two of the next three points to win, 25-23, and force the decisive fifth set.
The Bulls' comeback fell short as it was all Xavier in the fifth set. The Musketeers would not be denied the home victory as they hit .588 to Buffalo's .150.
XAVIER INVITE STANDINGS
Xavier, 1-0
BUFFALO, 1-1
Missouri, 1-1
Bellarmine, 0-1
The Bulls are back in action tomorrow at 10 a.m. against Bellarmine to close out their competition of the invite.
MISSOURI RECAP
The Bulls stormed out of the gate against the Missouri Tigers on Friday morning taking the contest in straight sets, 25-18, 25-19, 25-18. It was such a dominant performance that there were only eight ties and one lead change in the match. The storyline of the match was UB's defense. The Tigers were limited to a hitting percentage of .094, as UB hit at .341. In total, Missouri had 31 total errors.
The Bulls struggled on serves, as they had nine service errors.
Katrin Trebichavska led all players with 11 kills as Abby Leigh secured 10 kills. Julianna Lopez had a match-high 11 digs on the morning. As a team, the Bulls had seven blocks to Missouri's one.
Tied at two to start the first set, the Bulls went on an 8-1 run to take a 10-3 lead over the Tigers. In the run, A. Leigh and Trebichavska had two kills each. The run came to an end after a service error which led Mizzou to a get within three at 11-8. Whenever the Tigers got close, the Bulls made sure to increase their lead. The Bulls took the set, 25-18. A. Leigh finished with six kills in the first set alone.
Mizzou snatched their only lead of the match with a 1-0 lead in the second set. The Bulls held a three-point lead in the early stages of the set, as the Tigers and Bulls practically traded points to make it a 15-14 Buffalo lead. That was the closest Mizzou got to taking the lead as the Bulls pulled away. Of the Bulls' final 10 points, six came off of Tiger errors. Mizzou had a hitting percentage of just .067 to Buffalo's .250.
After tying the set at one, it was all Buffalo. The Bulls had their largest lead reach seven in the match. The offensive attack was spread out for the Bulls as six different Bulls had a kill in the set. UB hit .409 in the set, limiting Mizzou to just .062.
"Obviously, this is a big win for our program," stated Head Coach Scott Smith. "Even more so that we set the tone right from the first swing and never let up. Every player executed when they were called on and responded to all the changes we were seeing on the other side of the net. We are playing confidently and consistently and will need to continue that throughout the rest of this tournament."
XAVIER RECAP
The Bulls and Musketeers met at last year's UB Invite, where the Musketeers won, 3-2. The Bulls looked for revenge and to keep their win streak alive. However, Xavier had other plans. The Musketeers edged out the Bulls in a five-set thriller, 16-25, 25-18, 28-30, 25-23, 7-15.
Service errors carried over into the evening for the Bulls as they had 15 against the Musketeers. It was fairly even on the attack as Xavier held a slight edge at .224 to .217. Trebichavska had a match-high 18 kills and 23.5 points. Maria Futey had 23 digs for the Bulls, also a match high.
The Bulls got down early and couldn't claw their way back into the first set. With their eight kills, they also had eight errors to Xavier's 12 kills and four errors. The second set was a complete turnaround as the Bulls hit .324 to Xavier's .000. The Musketeers kept it close until the Bulls went on a 5-1 run to take a 12-5 lead. Up 17-8, Xavier took a timeout, but it was too little too late as the Bulls continued their momentum, winning the set, 25-18.
The Bulls were up by four in the beginning of the third set, but Xavier tied the set at 10 after an ace. The Musketeers' 4-1 run led to a UB timeout. Xavier took a 15-12 lead before Trebichavska's serves took over. The Bulls took a 20-16 lead and looked to take a 2-1 set lead. Up 23-19, Xavier took their final timeout of the set to slow down the Bulls. Stalling the Bulls worked as it was now a 23-22 game. The Bulls got it to set point until the Musketeers tied and took a 25-24 lead. It was a nail biter down the stretch as Xavier now led 29-28. It looked as though the Bulls tied the set at 29, but under further review, the Musketeers blocked as attack that did hit the line. Xavier won, 30-28.
The Bulls bounced back in the fourth set as they forced Xavier to eight attack errors. This set alone had 12 ties and seven lead changes, the most on the night. Trebichavska had six kills in the set. Looking to close out the match, Xavier was up 22-21. After winning the next two points, the Musketeers called a timeout. The Bulls won two of the next three points to win, 25-23, and force the decisive fifth set.
The Bulls' comeback fell short as it was all Xavier in the fifth set. The Musketeers would not be denied the home victory as they hit .588 to Buffalo's .150.
XAVIER INVITE STANDINGS
Xavier, 1-0
BUFFALO, 1-1
Missouri, 1-1
Bellarmine, 0-1
The Bulls are back in action tomorrow at 10 a.m. against Bellarmine to close out their competition of the invite.
Team Stats
MIZ
UB
Kills
30
39
Errors
21
10
Attempts
96
85
Hitting %
.094
.341
Points
34.0
50.0
Assists
30
36
Aces
3
4
Blocks
1
7
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
11
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballBuffalo Classic Day 3
Monday, September 08
Buffalo Classic Day 2
Monday, September 08
Buffalo Classic Day 1
Monday, September 08
Buffalo Invite 2025 - Women's Volleyball (Day 3)
Monday, August 11
