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Friday, August 28
St. Louis, Mo.
11 a.m.
University at Buffalo
1-0,0-0MAC
3
vs
2
UIC
0-1,0-0MVC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 25 | 25 | 17 | 23 | 15 | 3 |
| UIC | 22 | 18 | 25 | 25 | 13 | 2 |
Photo by: Paul Hokanson/UB Athletics
Bulls Split Opening Day Matches
8/28/2026 10:14:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
ST. LOUIS – The University at Buffalo women's volleyball (1-1, 0-0 MAC) split their action on opening day of the 2026 season at the Billiken Invitational. To start the invite, the Bulls defeated the UIC Flames in five sets. In their second match of the day, the Bulls fell to the host Saint Louis Billikens in four sets.
MATCH 1 VS. UIC
The Bulls earned their first victory of the season over the UIC Flames on Friday afternoon in five sets. Buffalo outhit the opposition, .233 to .178, as they finished with 65 kills. This was the Bulls' first neutral site win since the 2023 season.
Freshman Angelina Siepierski led the attack with 15 kills and a .345 hitting percentage. Senior Manoela Forlin added 14 kills for the Bulls. Sydney Bell had 11 kills and four blocks as Haily Campagna rounded out the top attackers with 10 kills.
Ava Kanj tied a career-high with six total blocks. Maddie Mitchell recorded her 14th career double-double with a match-high 42 assists and 13 digs.
SET 1 | The Bulls fought their way back in the first set after they trailed 16-10. Bell gave the Bulls a spark on offense which forced a UIC timeout. Buffalo tied the set at 21, only to take the lead and never look bac as they won, 25-22. The Bulls closed the set on a 9-3 run.
SET 2 | The Bulls took a commanding 2-set lead as the UIC offense struggled. The Bulls finished with 17 kills to the Flames' four. The Bulls won, 25-18.
SET 3 | UIC dominated the third set to avoid the sweep taking it 25-17.
SET 4 | The Flames forced the fifth set as they narrowly held off the Bulls in the fourth, 25-23.
SET 5 | Buffalo managed to avoid the reverse sweep with a 15-13 win in the fifth. The Bulls hit .353 to win the match.
MATCH 2 AT SAINT LOUIS
The Saint Louis Billikens defended their home court on Friday evening in four sets. The Billikens dominated the offensive attack as they hit .325 to the Bulls' .105.
Hailey Campagna led the Bulls with 16 kills as Anaya Cole led with 12 digs.
SET 1 | Both offenses struggled to find a groove in the first set as Saint Louis hit .179 as the Bulls hit -.037. Buffalo led early on before a 4-0 run by the Billikens. With 11 ties and three lead changes, the set tightened up as the Bulls tied the set at 19, 20 and 21. Saint Louis managed to squeak by to win, 25-22.
SET 2 | Siant Louis could do no wrong on offense as they were error free with 15 kills on 33 attacks for a .455 hitting percentage. They won the set, 25-15.
SET 3 | Buffalo bounced back to win the third set in dominant fashion. They hit .444 with 14 kills on 27 attempts. After trailing 1-0, they didn't look back. Both Campagna and Manoela Forlin had four kills each.
SET 4 | The Billikens spread out their offensive attack as five players had at least two kills in the set. They finished with 14 kills as the Bulls only managed seven. Saint Louis won the set, 25-24, to take the match.
"We saw signs of great play and truly what this team is capable of, mixed in with inconsistencies that we will have to work diligently to correct throughout the remainder of non-conference play," stated Head Coach Scott Smith. "We were able to display some of the depth we have in certain positions, and that will be important throughout the year. I was happy to fight back and get the five-set win over UIC. But was disappointed we could not find our rhythm offensively or defensively against SLU for more than one set. With one more match this weekend we will need to dig deep and work hard to come home with one more win."
The Bulls are back in action tomorrow at noon ET against the Lindenwood Lions.
For all the latest on UB volleyball, follow the team on Twitter/X and Instagram at @UBuffaloVB 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.
MATCH 1 VS. UIC
The Bulls earned their first victory of the season over the UIC Flames on Friday afternoon in five sets. Buffalo outhit the opposition, .233 to .178, as they finished with 65 kills. This was the Bulls' first neutral site win since the 2023 season.
Freshman Angelina Siepierski led the attack with 15 kills and a .345 hitting percentage. Senior Manoela Forlin added 14 kills for the Bulls. Sydney Bell had 11 kills and four blocks as Haily Campagna rounded out the top attackers with 10 kills.
Ava Kanj tied a career-high with six total blocks. Maddie Mitchell recorded her 14th career double-double with a match-high 42 assists and 13 digs.
SET 1 | The Bulls fought their way back in the first set after they trailed 16-10. Bell gave the Bulls a spark on offense which forced a UIC timeout. Buffalo tied the set at 21, only to take the lead and never look bac as they won, 25-22. The Bulls closed the set on a 9-3 run.
SET 2 | The Bulls took a commanding 2-set lead as the UIC offense struggled. The Bulls finished with 17 kills to the Flames' four. The Bulls won, 25-18.
SET 3 | UIC dominated the third set to avoid the sweep taking it 25-17.
SET 4 | The Flames forced the fifth set as they narrowly held off the Bulls in the fourth, 25-23.
SET 5 | Buffalo managed to avoid the reverse sweep with a 15-13 win in the fifth. The Bulls hit .353 to win the match.
MATCH 2 AT SAINT LOUIS
The Saint Louis Billikens defended their home court on Friday evening in four sets. The Billikens dominated the offensive attack as they hit .325 to the Bulls' .105.
Hailey Campagna led the Bulls with 16 kills as Anaya Cole led with 12 digs.
SET 1 | Both offenses struggled to find a groove in the first set as Saint Louis hit .179 as the Bulls hit -.037. Buffalo led early on before a 4-0 run by the Billikens. With 11 ties and three lead changes, the set tightened up as the Bulls tied the set at 19, 20 and 21. Saint Louis managed to squeak by to win, 25-22.
SET 2 | Siant Louis could do no wrong on offense as they were error free with 15 kills on 33 attacks for a .455 hitting percentage. They won the set, 25-15.
SET 3 | Buffalo bounced back to win the third set in dominant fashion. They hit .444 with 14 kills on 27 attempts. After trailing 1-0, they didn't look back. Both Campagna and Manoela Forlin had four kills each.
SET 4 | The Billikens spread out their offensive attack as five players had at least two kills in the set. They finished with 14 kills as the Bulls only managed seven. Saint Louis won the set, 25-24, to take the match.
"We saw signs of great play and truly what this team is capable of, mixed in with inconsistencies that we will have to work diligently to correct throughout the remainder of non-conference play," stated Head Coach Scott Smith. "We were able to display some of the depth we have in certain positions, and that will be important throughout the year. I was happy to fight back and get the five-set win over UIC. But was disappointed we could not find our rhythm offensively or defensively against SLU for more than one set. With one more match this weekend we will need to dig deep and work hard to come home with one more win."
The Bulls are back in action tomorrow at noon ET against the Lindenwood Lions.
For all the latest on UB volleyball, follow the team on Twitter/X and Instagram at @UBuffaloVB 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
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH/RS
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
S
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's VolleyballTeam Stats
UB
UIC
Kills
65
58
Errors
28
30
Attempts
159
157
Hitting %
.233
.178
Points
78.0
80.0
Assists
54
49
Aces
4
8
Blocks
9
14
Game Leaders
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
14
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
10
Aces
1
Blocks
0
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