Bulls Take Down Akron in Five Set Victory

Tuesday, October 22

Buffalo, N.Y.

6 p.m.

12-11,8-2MAC

Akron

8-14,4-6MAC

Akron

Buffalo

Photo by: Paul Hokanson / UB Athletics

Bulls Take Down Akron in Five Set Victory

10/22/2024 10:55:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: Zach Monell

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo women's volleyball team (12-11, 8-2 MAC) defended home court with a five-set win over the visiting Akron Zips (8-14, 4-6 MAC) on Tuesday evening (23-25, 29-27, 25-20, 23-25, 15-13). With the win the Bulls are the lone team at the top of the Mid-American Conference standings with an 8-2 record. Buffalo is now 8-1 at home on the season.

Manoela Forlin and Katrin Trebichavska had match-high 23 kills on the night as Abby Leigh chipped in 11 of her own. A. Leigh led the team with three aces as the Bulls tallied nine.

Mandy Leigh had 51 assists and four total blocks. Her sister, A. Leigh also finished with four total blocks. Trebichavska had a match-high 17 digs as Maria Futey had 16. With her performance, Futey surpassed 1,500 career digs.

Despite the Zips sitting in ninth place in the standings, they gave the Bulls a run for their money. Akron won the first set, 25-23, as both offenses were clicking. The Bulls outhit the Zips, .406 to .351. Buffalo was in a 4-0 deficit to start the set, but never found themselves with the lead. They tied the set at 22, but the Zips closed the set out on a 3-1 run.

Buffalo's record after dropping the first set on the season was 1-10, but they rebounded in the second set. A key difference were the Bulls' four aces and that they were a perfect 24-for-24 on receptions. After facing a 3-0 deficit, the Bulls managed to tie the set at 7 with a Tehya Shaw kill. Akron led 15-12 at the media timeout and continued to lead at 23-19. The Bulls fought off four set points with a 10-4 run to close the set and win it, 29-27. The Bulls only lead to this point in the match came at 28-27.

Buffalo snatched the third set, 25-20. Buffalo's offense exploded in the set as they outhit the Zips, .343 to .194. Of their 16 kills, Trebichavska had eight while M. Leigh assisted on 14 of the Bulls' kills. Buffalo trailed 4-1 but was able to take a 15-13 lead at the media timeout. Down the stretch, the Bulls cruised to the set win.

Buffalo's offense stalled in the fourth set as they tried to close out the match. The Bulls hit .143 with just 11 kills. Buffalo led 19-17, but couldn't stop the Zips' attack as they outscored the Bulls 8-4 to close the set.

In the decisive fifth set, the Bulls once found themselves in a 4-1 deficit. A 6-1 Buffalo run gave them a 7-5 lead and they didn't lose the lead the rest of the way. At 14-12, the Zips fought off match point, before Forlin closing the set with a kill at 15-13.

"I was very proud of the way the team stepped up and got a tough win tonight," stated Head Coach Scott Smith. "Our offense took off and was looking much stronger and we had some big time plays in the most crucial moments. Serving and passing again was the difference in most of the sets as all of the stats were being matched nearly point for point. It was a lot of fun to come out on top in a really tight match. We will need to carry that momentum with us to Central this weekend."

The Bulls are back in action on Friday at Central Michigan (16-5, 7-2 MAC) when they battle the Chippewas for a weekend series.

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