Two back-to-back away games in the Great Lakes State, against Western Michigan and Eastern Michigan, were the Bulls' first Mid-American Conference tests of the 2004 season. The Bulls lost both matches, dropping their overall record to 7-8 and their conference record to 0-2.
Match one: Black and Blue in Kalamazoo
Not even the most stealthy Marine sniper racks up as many kills in one night as UB's senior outside hitter, Molly Schrantz. Schrantz lead the Bulls with 15 kills in Friday night's loss in Kalamazoo to Western Michigan University.
"Molly played smart and fought hard," said coach head Sally Kus. "She's a senior; she knew when to swing and when to tip."
In spite of Schrantz's tenacity, the Bulls lacked ball control, losing the match in just four games (3-1). Buffalo's only win came in the second game of the match with the Bulls taking the game by a score of 30-26. UB dropped the other three games by scores of 30-17, 30-22 and 30-22.
Friday night's loss served as a two-pronged defeat for Buffalo. Not only did the Bulls slide to a season record of 7-7, but more importantly, the women put up a weak showing in their first Mid-American Conference match of the season.
"We just played tentative," said Kus. "That number seven (WMU's Ashley Schatzle) gave us a real hard time."
Schatzle was the leader of WMU's offensive attack with 20 kills.
Junior Katie Weekley, sophomore Nikki Morzenti, and junior Amy Brown all had strong outings for Buffalo in Friday's defeat. Weekley and Morzenti spurred the offence, each tallying up seven kills and two blocks. Brown made her contribution of the night by recording a double-double. The junior setter had 37 assists, two blocks, two kills and a team high ten digs.
The Bulls began their trek back East with the hopes of evening up their MAC record at Eastern Michigan.
Match Two: Garcia fights to dig up a MAC win for the Bulls
In an attempt to shake off Friday night's defeat, the Bulls traveled to Eastern Michigan for their second MAC game in as many days. Unfortunately for the Bulls, their encounter with the eastern half of the state proved to be no more successful than their match with the west.
Buffalo dropped three of four to the Eagles, pulling their season record below .500 (7-8) and giving them their second straight loss in MAC play.
"We had trouble with service," said Kus. "Molly (Schrantz) and (Lizaiha) Garcia played well, but we just had no service game."
A freshman on this year's team, Garcia had a strong outing with a match high thirty digs. Junior setter Amy Brown had a team-high 46 assists and ten digs.
After dropping the first two games of the match by scores of 30-20 and 30-24, Kus decided to play some of the bench in an attempt to swing the momentum for the Bulls.
"We switched things up," said Kus. "We let some of the kids play off the bench that were just dying to play. Wendy Haskell was eager."
The substitutions appeared to be a solution to the Bulls problems when they picked up a win in the third game, 30-27. Unfortunately, their success was short-lived. The Bulls lost the fourth game, and ultimately the match, with a game four score of 30-26.
The Bulls did see promise in some of the younger players. Haskell contributed five kills, ten digs and two blocks; while freshman Tammy Jul?(c) had nine kills.
Buffalo's lone senior Molly Schrantz was her usual aggressive self. Schrantz once again led UB in kills with 17. She also added 15 digs for her second double-double in the last three matches.
The Bulls will take the court again at home next Friday against Northern Illinois.
"They are hot and cold just like us," said Kus about NIU. "Let's just hope we're hot and they're cold. If we play like we did in the first two games on Friday we should have no problems."
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
