Buffalo came into this past weekend's Western New York Tournament hoping to come out with some wins in the record column. The Bulls did just that by claiming convincing victories over North Carolina State and Siena, but dropped their final two matches of the weekend to Boston College and Syracuse.
After losing the first game to N.C. State 28-30, the Bulls took the next three games 30-24, 30-17 and 30-24 to take the match 3-1. Led by senior captain Lindsay Matikosh and freshman Nikki Morzenti, the Bulls were able to overcome the 11 errors they committed in the first game.
After the first game, the Bulls committed only 14 errors in the next three games. Head coach Sally Kus blamed the errors on an early season lack of chemistry.
"We don't have six players out there feeling comfortable yet," said Kus.
Kus had stressed that for her team to be successful in this tournament they would need to show signs of aggression and team chemistry.
"I think with both matches we started off slow and in the past we've been a team that almost had to be behind to be fighting hard, I don t think we re ready for that goal yet," said Kus.
Matikosh finished off with 17 kills as Morzenti had 12 kills and 11 digs, making her first collegiate appearance a memorable one. Molly Schrantz led the Bulls in digs with 17 for the match.
In the second match of the day for the Bulls, Buffalo downed the Siena Saints in four games (30-24, 30-22, 23-30, 30-24). The win marks the first season starting of 2-0 since 1999, when the team finished with an overall record of 11-18.
Matikosh once again led the charge for the Bulls with a record performance. If her 23 kills in the four match game didn't standout enough, then maybe her .657 hitting percentage will. By going 23-35, Matikosh set the hitting percentage record for UB in a four game match.
Senior captain Alexis Bouie finished off the match against Siena with 11 kills while Morzenti finished with ten. Freshman Lauren Burd had a game high of eight blocks in her second game with the Bulls. Burd played basketball last season for the Bulls and in the spring of last season she changed sports. Kus was surprised with Burd's play.
"I had no idea she was going to have to step in like this for us and have the poise to play two different positions," said Kus.
On Saturday, the Bulls failed to follow up their undefeated first day, falling to Boston College (2-1), three sets to one (19-30, 30-27, 30-26, 33-31).
After a lethargic first game, where the defense looked in complete disarray, Kus made a few strategic adjustments, along with bringing in sophomore sparkplug Katie Weekley, who racked up an impressive nine total blocks for the game, to go along with nine kills.
When Kus played strikers Amy Brown and Brandie Clark, who tallied sixteen and fourteen digs, respectively, to go along with senior stars Alexis Bouie and Lindsay Matikosh, the Bulls seemed to be most formidable on offense, with Matikosh racking up fifteen kills and only four errors.
The Bulls then dropped the final game of the tournament to the Syracuse Orangewomen (32-34, 30-23, 33-31, 31-29). Schrantz led the Bulls with 22 kills and also added 19 digs. Matikosh continued her strong play with 16 kills and led the Bulls with 20 digs.
UB won the first game of the match 34-32. In the game, Buffalo came back from a 20-14 deficit and showed the heart Kus had talked about earlier. The Bulls were never close in the second game but were competitive in the final two. UB was not able to replicate the results of the first game, as the Orangewomen were able to pull out the final two games to take the match.
After the game Kus stressed the team's lack of chemistry.
"We need to work on our defense," said Kus. "We have to get everyone on the same page and have everyone trust each other."
Matikosh was UB's representative on the all-tournament team. She led the Bulls with 71 kills, 54 digs and a .338 hitting percentage.
Next up for the Bulls is this weekend's Duke classic in Durham, NC. UB will take on Southern Illinois, Duke and UNC-Charlotte.
