Bulls Open the 2024 Season with a 3-1 Victory Over Oakland

Friday, August 30

Buffalo, N.Y.

6 p.m.

1-0,0-0MAC

Oakland

0-1,0-0Horizon

Oakland

Buffalo

Photo by: Paul Hokanson / UB Athletics

Bulls Open the 2024 Season with a 3-1 Victory Over Oakland

8/30/2024 9:48:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Zach Monell

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo women's volleyball team (1-0, 0-0 MAC) defeated the Oakland Golden Grizzlies (0-1, 0-0 Horizon League) in a packed Alumni Arena on Friday evening, 3-1, to open the 2024 season.

2023 First-Team All-MAC honoree Katrin Trebichavska started where she finished last season as she recorded a 14-kill and 15-dig double-double. As one of the best servers in the country a season ago, she had four aces against Oakland. Freshmen Keira Kleidon and Emma Converse saw their first collegiate action in Alumni Arena. Kleidon totaled one set assist and eight digs as Converse had 11 kills and one block.

Abby Leigh and Manoela Forlin showed why they earned All-MAC recognition last season as they finished with double-digit kills. A. Leigh finished with a .650 hitting percentage with 14 kills and one error on 20 attempts. Forlin had an error-free night with 11 kills on 19 attempts for a .579 hitting percentage.

Two-time All-MAC honoree Mandy Leigh finished with 39 assists, 10 digs and four block assists. Maria Futey finished with 15 digs in the season opener. Tehya Shaw added four kills and seven blocks.

The Bulls and Golden Grizzlies duked it out in the first set. Buffalo's largest lead was three points, the last of which came at the 19-16 mark. Oakland tied the set at 19 after two Bull offensive miscues and an ace. The set had four more ties until Oakland rattled off the last two points in the set to take it, 25-23.

The Bulls and Golden Grizzlies had a back and forth start to the second set with four ties in the first 14 points. After it was 7-7, the Bulls pulled away and won 25-13. The Bulls outhit Oakland, .400 to .000. UB tallied five total team blocks to Oakland's one. Converse led the Bulls with five kills.

Buffalo kept the foot on the gas in the third set has they held the Golden Grizzlies to just nine kills. The Bulls finished with 16 kills and an attack percentage of .441. In the early portion of the set, UB went on a 5-0 run to take a 9-3 lead. The Bulls lost the lead at 16 all but rattled of nine of the last 11 points to win 25-18. A. Leigh capped off the set with an ace of her own.

Down 7-3 in the fourth set, the Golden Grizzlies chipped away at the Bulls' lead. They took a 14-13 lead, but Buffalo went on a 9-3 run to retake a 22-17 lead. Oakland wasn't done and battled back as the Bulls had four opportunities to reach match point. At 24-20, Converse called game with a skip set kill to give the Bulls the victory.

"Very happy to kick the season off with a win in front of a great opening night crowd," exclaimed University at Buffalo Women's Volleyball Head Coach Scott Smith. "Oakland didn't give us a lot of free points, so after we worked through the opening set errors I was pleased with our offensive production. We are still searching for our rhythm in serve receive and from the service line, but we fought hard and played aggressively throughout. Oakland was a gritty team who made us work for it and I thought we rose to the challenge."

The Bulls are back in action tomorrow evening at 6 p.m. against the Hampton Pirates (0-1, 0-0 CAA). Prior to the game, the Army West Point Black Knights (1-0, 0-0 Patriot) will take on the Oakland Golden Grizzlies (0-1, 0-0 Horizon League).