BUFFALO — The University at Buffalo volleyball team picked up several solid individual performances on Saturday night, but the Bulls were unable to get past Bowling Green as the Falcons defeated UB, 3-0.
Bowling Green took the match 25-18, 25-23, 25-23 as it outhit Buffalo, .245 to .228. The Falcons got out to the early 11-3 lead in the opening set before the Bulls were able to claw their way back to within 20-14, but BG won the set 25-18.
The final two sets were much closer with both teams having the opportunity to pick up wins. UB held a narrow 16-15 lead midway through the second, but Bowling Green went on a 6-1 run to take a 21-17 lead. However, the Bulls answered with four straight points as a Bowling Green attack error tied the set up at 21-21. A block by Cassie Shado and Madison Clark gave Buffalo a 23-22 advantage, but Bowling Green responded by scoring the final three points of the set, taking it 25-23.
In the third set, Buffalo got out to a 12-9 lead following a kill from Megan Wernette, but Bowling Green came back to take a 17-16 advantage. The Falcons led 21-19 when UB scored three straight points and a kill from Shado gave Buffalo the 22-21 lead. The Bulls led 23-22 when a UB service error and a BG service ace turned the set around and gave Bowling Green its first match point. An attack error by the Bulls ended the contest.
UB had a solid night defensively with 75 digs, its second highest total of the season and the most in a three-set match this year. Freshman Maddie Torbeck finished with a career-high 25 digs, while fellow freshman Hannah Watson added 18. Freshman Scout McLerran and sophomore Valisha Watkins each had 11.
Offensively, fifth-year senior Amber Hatchett had her best night of the year with nine kills and no errors on 13 swings, hitting .692 for the contest. Shado added eight kills and just one error, while Clark had seven kills and no errors, taking 40 swings on the evening. McLerran added four kills and no errors, while recording 38 assists.
The Bulls will now hit the road for the only time this month beginning on Friday night at Northern Illinois. The match is set for 8pm.
from UBBulls.com via IFTTT
