The volleyball team is entering this season as the youngest team in the nation, according to Bulls head coach Todd Kress. But in its first two games the squad has demonstrated a veteran-like work ethic
The Bulls (2-1) started their 2011 campaign in Hamilton, N.Y. by competing in the Colgate Classic. Buffalo began the tournament with a 3-0 sweep of Seton Hall (1-1) and followed that up with a 3-2 comeback victory against Colgate (1-2). The Bulls would fall against Colgate, 3-1, a day later.
Buffalo's two victories were hard-fought. The young team was on the ropes against Seton Hall when it dropped the first two sets, 25-21, 25-20. Kress made sure that his team regained focus.
"I talked to them… about their mentality and their mental toughness," Kress said. "Those things, no matter what the score and who is the opponent, you have to give it your best and fight through adversity."
The Bulls started to regain their rhythm when freshman hitter Sable Staller made her collegiate debut in the third set. Buffalo received a huge boost from her eight kills, and the team came roaring back to take the third and fourth sets, 25-18, 25-22.
Buffalo refused to let off the throttle. The squad leapt to an early lead in the final set to finish the match with a victory, 15-10.
Freshman hitter Liz Scott carried the team throughout the match against Colgate. Her match-high 20 kills, along with 12 digs, impressed Kress.
"I thought Liz played exceptionally well for a freshman in her first weekend of play," Kress said. "There's always the learning curve for freshmen when they start out and play in their first college match. I thought she did a nice job."
Buffalo's match against Seton Hall was no less of a thriller. The Bulls won each set by a narrow margin: 29-27, 25-23, 25-22.
Kress was proud of his team's ability to hold its own in the tight contest.
The Bulls used a 3-0 run to clinch the close first set.
Seton Hall quickly regained its composure and jumped out to an early 7-2 lead in the next set. However, they would not hold on to that lead for long, as the Bulls came back strong with a 14-6 run bookended by kills from Scott and senior blocker Abby Niekamp.
Niekamp ended the set with another kill to add to her match-high total of 16.
Neither team was able to gain control in the third set. As they battled back and forth until the score was tied, 23-23. Seton Hall then gave up a point for having the wrong player serve the ball. The Bulls took advantage of the error and ended the match with a double block from sophomore hitter Dana Musil and sophomore blocker Carissa McKenna.
The Bulls couldn't capitalize on the momentum of the two matches. Buffalo was plagued by sloppy play in its rematch against Colgate and hit an unimpressive .176. Although the percentage was considerably higher than Colgate's .056, Colgate was able to capitalize off of Buffalo's mistakes. Colgate took the sets, 25-21, 8-25, 25-22, 25-20.
Kress expected a better effort from his team in the third match.
"If you beat [a team] the day before, you expect to win the next match," Kress said. "But when you expect to win, you still have to go out and back that up. No one is going to go out and lose. You have to be the ones to produce the win and we didn't go out there and do that."
Scott once again led the team with 11 kills, while Musil posted a weekend-high of 19 digs.
The Bulls' next match is on Friday as they travel to Ohio to face Youngstown State (0-4). The match is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.
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