Bulls Beat Bellarmine in Straight Sets to Improve to 8-1 on the Season

Saturday, September 9

Cincinnati, Ohio

10 a.m.

University at Buffalo

8-1,0-0MAC

Bellarmine

2-6,0-0ASUN

Buffalo

Bellarmine

Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UBBulls.com

Bulls Beat Bellarmine in Straight Sets to Improve to 8-1 on the Season

9/9/2023 11:56:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

CINCINNATI – The University at Buffalo women's volleyball team (8-1, 0-0 MAC) finished 2-1 at the Xavier Invitational after beating the Bellarmine Knights (2-6, 0-0 ASUN) on Saturday morning in straight sets, 25-15, 25-21, 25-14.

Lauren Otten recorded a career day as she finished with a career-high eight kills. Katrin Trebichavska finished with a 10 kill-12 dig double-double as Abby Leigh had 10 kills and six total blocks. Mandy Leigh had 34 assists and seven digs on the day. Trebichavska added six service aces, a season-high for the Bulls.

A big difference for the Bulls compared to yesterday's matches was the cut down on service errors. They finished with nine against the Knights compared to a combined 24 versus Mizzou and Xavier. The Bulls had one of their most efficient offensive attacks this season finishing with an attack percentage of .400 and just eight errors.

The Bulls led wire to wire in the first set with their lead reaching seven points before the Knights made a charge. Bellarmine got within three points at 16-13 forcing the Bulls to a timeout, but UB finished the set on a 9-2 run. Otten racked up a set-high five kills as the Bulls hit at .393 to Bellarmine's .051.

The Knights gave the Bulls a run for their money in the second set. The Knights surged out to a 10-2 lead before the Bulls called a timeout. Bellarmine led 13-3, but that wasn't enough to stop the Bulls. Slowly, but surely, UB chipped away and came all the way back. They closed the set on a 16-4 run.

Despite it being a tight set in the early stages, the Bulls were dominant. They hit .458 with 12 kills and one error on 24 attempts. Emma Gielas had five of her seven kills in the set for UB. Seven different Bulls had assists in the match clinching set.

"I was really happy with the response from the team today after a heartbreaker last night," stated Head Coach Scott Smith. "We came out strong in the first set with everything clicking, but Bellarmine responded early in the second. The team showed incredible fortitude going on a 16-4 run in the second set! We leaned hard on our serving and blocking through the match today and our offense was very efficient."

On the weekend, the Bulls outhit their opponents, .296 to .153. At the net, they had 12 solo blocks and 20 block assists. Trebichavaska led the team with 39 kills, 54.5 points, and 12 aces. Maria Futey finished with 40 digs with M. Leigh adding 110 assists to her total.

The Bulls are back in action on Friday, Sept. 15 against nationally ranked Arkansas (6-2, 0-0 SEC) at the Red Storm Invitational hosted by St. John's in Queens, N.Y.