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Friday, October 17
Buffalo, N.Y.
6 p.m.
vs
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Western Michigan
Photo by: Paul Hokanson / UB Athletics
Bulls Host Two-Time Defending MAC Champ Western Michigan for Weekend Slate
10/16/2025 12:05:00β―PM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, N.Y. βΒ The University at Buffalo women's volleyball team (6-10, 3-4 MAC) are back home for a weekend slate against the back-to-back MAC Champion Western Michigan Broncos (7-13, 4-3 MAC). The MACtion will begin on Friday at 6 p.m. followed by a match on Saturday at 4 p.m. Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.
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The Bulls will celebrate Spirit Day and Pride Night on Friday as Saturday will be the volleyball team's GameChangeHer match. The Bulls will autograph GameChangeHer posters following Saturday's action.
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The Broncos and Bulls faced off three times last year including in the MAC Tournament. In the regular season, the Broncos took the first match of the weekend, but the Bulls followed it up with a sweep over Western Michigan. Buffalo handed the Broncos their first regular season conference loss since 2022 as the Broncos went 18-0 in MAC play in 2023. In the MAC Quarterfinals, the Broncos defeated the Bulls, 3-1. The Broncos lead the all-time series, 30-6. Under Head Coach Scott Smith, Buffalo is 3-9 against the Broncos.
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The Bulls went 2-1 last week with wins over Akron and Central Michigan. The Chippewas eventually snapped the Bulls' three-game win streak with a 3-0 win on Saturday.
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In Friday's 3-1 win over Central Michigan, three Bulls recorded double-doubles. Emerson Matthews finished the night with a match-high 20 kills and 10 digs, Manoela Forlin had 11 kills and 13 digs, as Maddie Mitchell tallied 38 assists and 12 digs. Mitchell now has a team leading six double-doubles on the year.
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Sydney Bell saw her first action in six matches as she finished with eight kills and two block assists. Keira Kleidon had a match-high 23 digs.
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From the service line, Eve Adams had a pair of aces as Matthews, Kleidon and Mitchell each had one.
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ABOUT THE BULLS
Β β’ Junior Manoela Forlin has 10+ kills in 11 of the 16 matches this season.
Β
β’ In just conference play, Emerson Matthews is second in aces per set (0.46), tied for second in total aces (12), third in kills per set (3.73) and points (118.0), and tied for third in points per set (4.54) and total kills (97).
Β
β’ Preseason All-MAC honoree Manoela Forlin and freshman Emerson Matthews have been the Bulls' one-two punch on the offensive attack. The duo has combined for 378 kills, which is 54.2% of the Bulls' total kills on the season. This is the second-highest rate in the MAC behind Ball State's Carson Tyler and Noelle VanOort who make up 54.8% of the Cardinals' kills.
Β
β’ Maddie Mitchell has six double-doubles on the season. Mitchell has recorded double-doubles in three of the last four matches against Ohio (10/4), Akron (10/7) and Central Michigan (10/10).
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β’ The Bulls currently have the fifth-best hitting percentage in the MAC at .197.
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β’ The Bulls are 16-4 in sets where they reach 15 first, but are 5-34 when the opposition gets to 15 first.
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For all the latest on UB Volleyball, followΒ @ubvolleyballΒ on Twitter/X,Β @ub_volleyballΒ on Instagram and like theΒ UB Women's VolleyballΒ Facebook page.
ClickΒ hereΒ for ticket information.
ClickΒ hereΒ for information on the Bulls Championship Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
Β
The Bulls will celebrate Spirit Day and Pride Night on Friday as Saturday will be the volleyball team's GameChangeHer match. The Bulls will autograph GameChangeHer posters following Saturday's action.
Β
The Broncos and Bulls faced off three times last year including in the MAC Tournament. In the regular season, the Broncos took the first match of the weekend, but the Bulls followed it up with a sweep over Western Michigan. Buffalo handed the Broncos their first regular season conference loss since 2022 as the Broncos went 18-0 in MAC play in 2023. In the MAC Quarterfinals, the Broncos defeated the Bulls, 3-1. The Broncos lead the all-time series, 30-6. Under Head Coach Scott Smith, Buffalo is 3-9 against the Broncos.
Β
The Bulls went 2-1 last week with wins over Akron and Central Michigan. The Chippewas eventually snapped the Bulls' three-game win streak with a 3-0 win on Saturday.
Β
In Friday's 3-1 win over Central Michigan, three Bulls recorded double-doubles. Emerson Matthews finished the night with a match-high 20 kills and 10 digs, Manoela Forlin had 11 kills and 13 digs, as Maddie Mitchell tallied 38 assists and 12 digs. Mitchell now has a team leading six double-doubles on the year.
Β
Sydney Bell saw her first action in six matches as she finished with eight kills and two block assists. Keira Kleidon had a match-high 23 digs.
Β
From the service line, Eve Adams had a pair of aces as Matthews, Kleidon and Mitchell each had one.
Β
ABOUT THE BULLS
Β β’ Junior Manoela Forlin has 10+ kills in 11 of the 16 matches this season.
Β
β’ In just conference play, Emerson Matthews is second in aces per set (0.46), tied for second in total aces (12), third in kills per set (3.73) and points (118.0), and tied for third in points per set (4.54) and total kills (97).
Β
β’ Preseason All-MAC honoree Manoela Forlin and freshman Emerson Matthews have been the Bulls' one-two punch on the offensive attack. The duo has combined for 378 kills, which is 54.2% of the Bulls' total kills on the season. This is the second-highest rate in the MAC behind Ball State's Carson Tyler and Noelle VanOort who make up 54.8% of the Cardinals' kills.
Β
β’ Maddie Mitchell has six double-doubles on the season. Mitchell has recorded double-doubles in three of the last four matches against Ohio (10/4), Akron (10/7) and Central Michigan (10/10).
Β
β’ The Bulls currently have the fifth-best hitting percentage in the MAC at .197.
Β
β’ The Bulls are 16-4 in sets where they reach 15 first, but are 5-34 when the opposition gets to 15 first.
Β
For all the latest on UB Volleyball, followΒ @ubvolleyballΒ on Twitter/X,Β @ub_volleyballΒ on Instagram and like theΒ UB Women's VolleyballΒ Facebook page.
ClickΒ hereΒ for ticket information.
ClickΒ hereΒ for information on the Bulls Championship Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
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Players Mentioned
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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