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Tuesday, October 28
Buffalo, N.Y.
6 p.m.
vs
Akron
Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UB Athletics
Bulls have Busy Week with Matches Against Akron and NIU
10/27/2025 2:24:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo women's volleyball team (7-13, 4-7 MAC) has three matches on the docket this week as they'll host the Akron Zips (11-11, 4-7 MAC) on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. The match will be the Bulls' Spooktacular and Kids Night. UB will then head west as they'll play the Northern Illinois Huskies (10-10, 3-8 MAC) on Friday and Saturday. This will be the Bulls' final time playing the Huskies as a conference opponent. All matches this week will be streamed on ESPN+.
The Bulls took the first meeting of the season against the Zips on Oct. 7 in a 3-2 decision. In the win, Manoela Forlin led the offense for the Bulls as she recorded 23 kills with a .340 hitting percentage. Reese Collins was error free on the attack with seven kills on 15 attempts. Collins also added five total blocks, setting a career high. Emerson Matthews tallied 11 kills with a career-high three aces. Maddie Mitchell recorded a 42-assist, 14-dig double-double. Keira Kleidon had a team-high 17 digs to go with her three aces, tying a career high.
The Bulls have won the last six matches against the Zips. Under Head Coach Scott Smith, Buffalo is 12-2 against Akron.
Last year the Bulls dominated the Huskies as they won 3-0 and 3-1. UB finished last year's series with a .292 hitting percentage (100-27-250). Over the course of their last four wins over Northern Illinois, Buffalo has a .278 hitting percentage (201-58-514). Smith has a 6-4 record against Northern Illinois.
The Bulls split their series against the Eastern Michigan Eagles last week. On Friday, the Bulls swept the Eagles as Forlin, Matthews and Mitchell finished with double-doubles. This was the second time this season that Buffalo had three players finish with a double-double in the same match. The Bulls looked to sweep the weekend from the Eagles as they held a 2-0 sets lead against Eastern Michigan, but they unfortunately fell in a reverse sweep. Forlin finished the week with 4.13 kills per set which was the top-mark in the MAC to go with her 4.75 points per set, good for second. Kleidon had a great week as she tallied 5.63 digs per set which ranked second in the conference.
ABOUT THE BULLS
• Two of the Bulls' longest active win streaks in the MAC have come against Akron and Northern Illinois at six and four wins, respectfully.
• Junior Manoela Forlin has 10+ kills in 14 of the 20 matches this season.
• In just conference play, Emerson Matthews is top-10 in the MAC in aces per set (0.39), total aces (16), total kills (154), kills per set (3.76), total points (183.0) and points per set (4.46).
• Sophomore middle blocker Ava Kanj has recorded 29 total blocks in the last seven matches, good for 1.07 blocks per set.
• 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 488 kills, which is 56.0% of the Bulls' total kills on the season. This is the highest rate in the MAC as Ball State's Carson Tyler and Noelle VanOort make up 53.5% of the Cardinals' kills is just behind for second.
• Maddie Mitchell has nine double-doubles on the season. Mitchell has recorded double-doubles in five of the last eight matches against Ohio (10/4), Akron (10/7), Central Michigan (10/10) and Eastern Michigan (10/23-24).
• The Bulls are 21-5 in sets where they reach 15 first, but are 6-42 when the opposition gets to 15 first.
For all the latest on UB Volleyball, follow @ubvolleyball on Twitter/X, @ub_volleyball on Instagram and like the UB Women's Volleyball Facebook page.
Click here for ticket information.
Click here for information on the Bulls Championship Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
The Bulls took the first meeting of the season against the Zips on Oct. 7 in a 3-2 decision. In the win, Manoela Forlin led the offense for the Bulls as she recorded 23 kills with a .340 hitting percentage. Reese Collins was error free on the attack with seven kills on 15 attempts. Collins also added five total blocks, setting a career high. Emerson Matthews tallied 11 kills with a career-high three aces. Maddie Mitchell recorded a 42-assist, 14-dig double-double. Keira Kleidon had a team-high 17 digs to go with her three aces, tying a career high.
The Bulls have won the last six matches against the Zips. Under Head Coach Scott Smith, Buffalo is 12-2 against Akron.
Last year the Bulls dominated the Huskies as they won 3-0 and 3-1. UB finished last year's series with a .292 hitting percentage (100-27-250). Over the course of their last four wins over Northern Illinois, Buffalo has a .278 hitting percentage (201-58-514). Smith has a 6-4 record against Northern Illinois.
The Bulls split their series against the Eastern Michigan Eagles last week. On Friday, the Bulls swept the Eagles as Forlin, Matthews and Mitchell finished with double-doubles. This was the second time this season that Buffalo had three players finish with a double-double in the same match. The Bulls looked to sweep the weekend from the Eagles as they held a 2-0 sets lead against Eastern Michigan, but they unfortunately fell in a reverse sweep. Forlin finished the week with 4.13 kills per set which was the top-mark in the MAC to go with her 4.75 points per set, good for second. Kleidon had a great week as she tallied 5.63 digs per set which ranked second in the conference.
ABOUT THE BULLS
• Two of the Bulls' longest active win streaks in the MAC have come against Akron and Northern Illinois at six and four wins, respectfully.
• Junior Manoela Forlin has 10+ kills in 14 of the 20 matches this season.
• In just conference play, Emerson Matthews is top-10 in the MAC in aces per set (0.39), total aces (16), total kills (154), kills per set (3.76), total points (183.0) and points per set (4.46).
• Sophomore middle blocker Ava Kanj has recorded 29 total blocks in the last seven matches, good for 1.07 blocks per set.
• 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 488 kills, which is 56.0% of the Bulls' total kills on the season. This is the highest rate in the MAC as Ball State's Carson Tyler and Noelle VanOort make up 53.5% of the Cardinals' kills is just behind for second.
• Maddie Mitchell has nine double-doubles on the season. Mitchell has recorded double-doubles in five of the last eight matches against Ohio (10/4), Akron (10/7), Central Michigan (10/10) and Eastern Michigan (10/23-24).
• The Bulls are 21-5 in sets where they reach 15 first, but are 6-42 when the opposition gets to 15 first.
For all the latest on UB Volleyball, follow @ubvolleyball on Twitter/X, @ub_volleyball on Instagram and like the UB Women's Volleyball Facebook page.
Click here for ticket information.
Click here for information on the Bulls Championship Fund and how you can help UB Athletics.
Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
S
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