Saturday, August 31
Buffalo, N.Y.
6 p.m.
vs
Hampton
Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UBBulls.com
Volleyball Begins Season with the Buffalo Invite Presented by UB Dental
8/29/2024 12:47:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo women's volleyball team (0-0, 0-0 MAC) begin their 2024 campaign as they host the Buffalo Invite presented by UB Dental on Friday, Aug. 30 through Sunday, Sept. 1. The Bulls posted a 23-9 overall record and 13-5 in MAC play a season ago earning a trip to the MAC Semifinals. In doing so, they participated in the program's second postseason tournament at the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC) as a Division I program.
Visit the UB Dental Mobile Dental Unit prior to the game for your free oral cancer screening. Toothbrushes will be given away throughout the entire Invite. The first 150 fans in attendance of the Bulls' first game will receive commemorative 2023 MAC East Division Champion banners presented by UB Dental. The Bulls will play the Oakland Golden Grizzlies on Friday at 6 p.m. for their season opener. On Saturday, the competition will continue with the team hosting the Hampton Pirates at 6 p.m. The Buffalo Invite will come to a close as the Bulls battle the Army West Point Black Knights at 3 p.m. on Sunday. The entire tournament will be streamed on UB's YouTube channel.
The Bulls bring back eight veteran players while adding eight newcomers, all of which are freshmen. Luli Arcucci (Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina), a 6-3 middle blocker, helped the Argentinian National Team to a South American Title in 2022. Ava Kanj (Solon, Ohio) was a star middle blocker at Solon where she took home all-conference honors all four seasons on the varsity program. Keira Kleidon (Oak Park, Ill.) was a four-sport athlete at Oak Park and River Forest and earned First-Team All-Conference honors as a libero. Emma Converse (San Antonio, Texas) is a lengthy outside hitter that helped her team reach the national rankings in 2022 while finishing third in the state championships in 2023. Local product Eve Adams (Cattaraugus, N.Y.) guided Randolph to two Section VI and five league titles. She's the Section VI all-time leader in aces and kills. Kate Trzcinski (North Royalton, Ohio) earned all-conference honors in 2022 and 2023 at Walsh Jesuit in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Reese Collins (Lexington, Ky.) racked up over 1,500 kills and 400 blocks in her career at Sayre School as a middle blocker. Ava Roodbol (Toronto, Ontario) transferred from San Jose State where she redshirted. The setter won the 18U Canadia National Championship in 2022.
Of the returners, the Bulls welcome back four of their five All-MAC honorees from last season. Setter Mandy Leigh returns for her senior season along with libero Maria Futey. Last season, M. Leigh earned First-Team All-MAC honors as she was 35th in the NCAA with 10.39 assists per set. Abby Leigh is back for her sixth and final season. She earned First-Team All-MAC honors and was 29th in the country with a hitting percentage of .391. Katrin Trebichavska led the MAC with 0.54 aces per set as she took home First-Team All-MAC honors last season. Sophomore outside hitter Manoela Forlin earned MAC All-Freshman Team honors as well as MAC All-Tournament Team honors.
Back for their third seasons with the Bulls are Lauren Otten and Tehya Shaw. Chloe Brown is back for her sophomore season.
WEEKEND INFORMATION
Visit the UB Dental Mobile Dental Unit prior to the game for your free oral cancer screening. Toothbrushes will be given away throughout the entire Invite. The first 150 fans in attendance of the Bulls' first game will receive commemorative 2023 MAC East Division Champion banners presented by UB Dental. The Bulls will play the Oakland Golden Grizzlies on Friday at 6 p.m. for their season opener. On Saturday, the competition will continue with the team hosting the Hampton Pirates at 6 p.m. The Buffalo Invite will come to a close as the Bulls battle the Army West Point Black Knights at 3 p.m. on Sunday. The entire tournament will be streamed on UB's YouTube channel.
The Bulls bring back eight veteran players while adding eight newcomers, all of which are freshmen. Luli Arcucci (Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina), a 6-3 middle blocker, helped the Argentinian National Team to a South American Title in 2022. Ava Kanj (Solon, Ohio) was a star middle blocker at Solon where she took home all-conference honors all four seasons on the varsity program. Keira Kleidon (Oak Park, Ill.) was a four-sport athlete at Oak Park and River Forest and earned First-Team All-Conference honors as a libero. Emma Converse (San Antonio, Texas) is a lengthy outside hitter that helped her team reach the national rankings in 2022 while finishing third in the state championships in 2023. Local product Eve Adams (Cattaraugus, N.Y.) guided Randolph to two Section VI and five league titles. She's the Section VI all-time leader in aces and kills. Kate Trzcinski (North Royalton, Ohio) earned all-conference honors in 2022 and 2023 at Walsh Jesuit in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. Reese Collins (Lexington, Ky.) racked up over 1,500 kills and 400 blocks in her career at Sayre School as a middle blocker. Ava Roodbol (Toronto, Ontario) transferred from San Jose State where she redshirted. The setter won the 18U Canadia National Championship in 2022.
Of the returners, the Bulls welcome back four of their five All-MAC honorees from last season. Setter Mandy Leigh returns for her senior season along with libero Maria Futey. Last season, M. Leigh earned First-Team All-MAC honors as she was 35th in the NCAA with 10.39 assists per set. Abby Leigh is back for her sixth and final season. She earned First-Team All-MAC honors and was 29th in the country with a hitting percentage of .391. Katrin Trebichavska led the MAC with 0.54 aces per set as she took home First-Team All-MAC honors last season. Sophomore outside hitter Manoela Forlin earned MAC All-Freshman Team honors as well as MAC All-Tournament Team honors.
Back for their third seasons with the Bulls are Lauren Otten and Tehya Shaw. Chloe Brown is back for her sophomore season.
WEEKEND INFORMATION
- Friday, Aug. 30 | Army West Point vs. Hampton | 2 p.m.
- Friday, Aug. 30 | Buffalo vs. Oakland | 6 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 31 | Oakland vs. Army West Point | 2 p.m.
- Saturday, Aug. 31 | Buffalo vs. Hampton | 6 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 1 | Hampton vs. Oakland | 11 a.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 1 | Buffalo vs. Army West Point | 3 p.m.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
L/OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
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