Last weekend, the University at Buffalo women's volleyball team opened the Mid-American Conference portion of its 2001 season against two formidable opponents. Unfortunately, the Bulls came up short in both contests, falling to 2-7 for the season and 0-2 in MAC conference play.
"The team played well. We did a lot of things better, but little two- or three-point breakdowns hurt us a lot," said Bulls Assistant Coach Joe Fisher.
The Bulls traveled Friday to Huntington, W.Va. to face Marshall's Thundering Herd. The team hit .419 to win the first game 30-26, but dropped the next three 30-18, 30-25 and 30-25.
For the second-straight match, sophomore Alexis Bouie posted double figures in kills, recording 10. She was second only to freshman Molly Schrantz, who led the team with 11 kills for the night. Senior setter Larissa LaCour added 40 assists and a team-high 14 digs to the Bulls' effort.
Freshman Katie Henry contributed a career-high 12 dig to surpass her personal record of 11, set two days earlier at Syracuse. Sophomore Lindsay Matikosh finished the night with her usual well-rounded play, posting nine kills, five digs, two blocks and three service aces.
Saturday evening the Bulls faced the University of Ohio Bobcats, dropping a second consecutive loss in MAC conference play in a tight four-game match (30-24, 28-30, 30-13 and 30-25).
Continuing strong play, Alexis Bouie recorded a career-high 15 kills, besting her previous high of 13 set Wednesday at Syracuse. It was Bouie's third straight posting of double-figure kills. Lindsay Matikosh also reached double figures in kills, with 13 to complement her 14 digs. Setter Larissa LaCour contributed 35 assists and led all Bulls with 16 digs.
Even though the Bulls are a young team, they have veteran leadership in seniors Wendy Ryder, Heather Barfuss and Keri Shiels. As the season progresses, the team will look deeper into their bench to find relief from sophomore Becky Ashare and junior Emily Dills, and freshman Airin Edrosolan.
The Bulls will be on the road again this weekend, facing Toledo Friday and Northern Illinois Saturday. Their last road game is Wednesday, Oct. 3, at Niagara.
