Overall: 9-23, 1-17 in the MAC. That is how the UB volleyball team's final record looked after their season-ending battles over the weekend. Although they snapped their epic MAC losing streak during the season, this season will not be one to remember
In what would be the last game for seniors Becky Ashire and Amie Wall, Buffalo was defeated in four games by the Miami, Ohio, RedHawks on Saturday. After dropping the first game to Miami, 30-20, UB bounced back in the second to make things interesting.
That second game saw a switch in the libero position, as Kathryn Henry, who had been playing as an outside hitter, replaced Wall. The Redhawks led the game early, but the Bulls' perseverance paid off. Down 21-17, Buffalo was able to come back to win the match 30-25. Junior Emily Dills was able to earn points for UB several times by tipping the ball over jumping Miami opponents. Molly Schrantz hit the match-winning point.
"I was really happy that I could finish the point off for the game win. It was exciting, and I felt that that brought us up to play the third game after that," said Schrantz.
"Before the game we had established that we were going to keep our intensity and maintain our composure. We were definitely going into the game motivated. To finish the second game the way we did was a big motivator for the third," said UB's Alexis Bouie.
Buffalo looked ready when the third game began. The team came out strong and took an early 8-2 led. Miami, however, took a time-out, and the momentum began to switch. The Redhawks came back to be a mere one point behind when UB Head Coach Sally Kus called a time-out. The Bulls seemed rejuvenated and once again came out strong, but the Redhawks were able to take game three 30-24.
The fourth game was disappointing following the team's play in the past three. The Bulls had only a .073 attacking percentage for the fourth game, while Miami earned a .433 percentage as the RedHawks rolled, 30-16.
"Usually after a serving error we lose four or five points in row. We need to finish more plays. We played really well at some different points; we just didn't stay on fire. That's what we needed to do to beat Miami," said Kus.
Lindsay Matikosh led the team with 15 digs and tied with Schrantz for kills (11 each), while Schrantz also recorded 27 assists. Bouie had a match high seven blocks including two solo blocks. Freshman Amy Brown's 948 assists this year rank her as the tenth for single season assists in UB History, while Matikosh is third all-time in kills (441) and fourth all-time for digs (450) in a single year.
Sophomores Angie Zent and Tara Buroker led the Redhawks. Zent earned a match high 18 kills and Buroker had 14 kills and a .542 attack percentage.
Kus and the team now look to their spring season to improve and get ready for next year.
"We need to be able to play a more total game, and that's what we're going to work on it the spring," said Kus.
The Bulls fell in three games to the Ohio Bobcats (24-7, 14-3 MAC) on Friday, a team currently ranked ninth in the Mideast Region. Buffalo had the offensive advantage in the first game, out-hitting Ohio .324 to .278, but the Bobcats were still able to pull off a 30-24 win. The Bulls had 17 kills in the first match while Ohio had only 14.
UB took an early lead in the second match as they were up 5-1 at one point. Ohio was able to come back and win 30-23, however.
"Sometimes we play better when we're down. Sometimes our composure isn't where it should be when we're up," said Kus.
In game three the Bulls found themselves behind 5-1, as well; however, they too attempted a comeback. The game went back and forth with Buffalo often only one point behind. UB was able to tie the game at 20, but the Bobcats persevered and won the final game 30-25.
The first game began by celebrating Matikosh's tremendous achievements at UB, and she continued her success on the court by leading the team in kills and digs, earning another double double with 10 kills and fifteen digs. Freshmen middle hitter Katie Weekly led the team in hitting percentage with .529 overall on the attack. Both Weekly and sophomore Schrantz had nine kills each, and Schrantz tied her career high five blocks and gave 17 assists in the game.
Ohio's Laura Hegemen led Ohio's offensive attack with a .484 hitting percentage. Ashley Ellicott was the Bobcat's defensive leader earning five blocks.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
