Editor's Note: This article was edited to correct the date of the game from Saturday night to Sunday night. The Spectrum apologizes for this error.
The University at Buffalo women’s volleyball team (3-4, 0-0 MAC) closed out its run in the Buffalo Classic on Sunday night with a 3–1 loss to Cornell (4-3, 0-0 Ivy League), falling by set scores of 22–25, 23–25, 25–21 and 13–25. Despite the result, the Bulls showed grit, talent and flashes of dominance, especially in a strong third-set comeback that had Alumni Arena on its feet.
Junior outside hitter Manoela Forlin and freshman outside hitter Emerson Matthews were electric at the net, each tallying 15 kills. The pair's aggressive swings and smart shot placement kept the Big Red defense scrambling, and both were instrumental in keeping Buffalo competitive through the first three sets.
The Bulls finished the night with a .220 hitting percentage and six team blocks. They applied early pressure with aggressive serving and strong setter coordination, forcing the Big Red to battle for points in the opening frames.
After narrowly dropping the first two sets, the Bulls came storming back in the third. UB hit a .312 as a team, feeding off the energy of the home crowd. Timely kills, solid blocking and tight defensive play gave Buffalo the edge they needed to take the set 25–21.
The Bulls finished the Buffalo Classic with a 3-4 record, but their level of play continues to improve. The chemistry is building, the attack is clicking and players like Forlin, Matthews, and the entire front line are showing they can compete with anyone.
With Mid-American Conference (MAC) play just around the corner, UB looks to take the momentum from their third-set win and strong individual performances into the next stretch of the season.
The Bulls next play at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Friday September 19th at 6:00 p.m. The game will be available to stream on ESPN+.
The sports desk can be reached at sports@ubspectrum.com
