BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Buffalo Bulls volleyball team (6-11, 3-5 MAC) lost to the visiting Western Michigan Broncos (8-13, 5-3 MAC) in four sets on Friday evening, 24-26, 25-23, 27-25, 20-25.
The Bulls gave the two-time defending MAC champion Broncos a run for their money on the night. The Broncos entered the evening with the seventh-best digs per set ranking in the country at 17.38. The Bulls offense tallied 175 attack attempts, but 86 of them went down as digs for the Broncos. Western Michigan held the Bulls to a .160 hitting percentage on the evening.
Both Maddie Mitchell and Manoela Forlin added to their double-double total as they now have seven and three, respectfully. Mitchell finished with 41 assists and 17 digs, a four-set high in assists for the freshman setter. She also hit .500 with five kills. Forlin tallied 13 kills and a career-high 22 digs. Emerson Matthews added 17 kills and three blocks.
Tehya Shaw added 10 kills and three total blocks. Luli Arcucci had three blocks as Ava Kanj continued to be a force at the net as she finished with four blocks. Kanj has now recorded 17 blocks over the last four matches.
Keira Kleidon had 18 digs on the night.
SET 1
In just the first set, there 17 ties and 11 lead changes, the most in the match. After going up 13-9, the Bulls forced Western Michigan to call a timeout. Out of the break, the Broncos took a 14-13 lead. The Bulls had an opportunity to close out the set, but the Broncos fought off set point as a 3-0 run gave them the set, 26-24.
SET 2
Buffalo won the second set, 25-23, as they outhit the Broncos, .243 to .146. The Bulls jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but the set tightened as the Broncos made a run. Buffalo trailed, 20-17, but an 8-3 run propelled them to a set win.
SET 3
Buffalo’s offense struggled in the third as they hit .070. Western Michigan’s 13 errors kept the Bulls in the set The Bulls trailed 13-8, but tied the set at 16 as they forced six errors in their 8-3 run. The Broncos managed to go up 21-18 and force a Buffalo timeout. Out of the break, Buffalo took a 23-22 and got to set point, but the Broncos won, 27-25.
SET 4
The Broncos tallied 20 points in the fourth set to Buffalo’s 12. The Bulls led for nearly half the set, but once Western Michigan took the 10-9 lead, they didn’t trail the rest of the way.
UP NEXT
The Bulls and Broncos will continue their weekend series tomorrow at 4 p.m. Buffalo will host their GameChangeHer match tomorrow with a post-game poster signing.
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Courtesy of University at Buffalo.
