"With Comeback Win, Volleyball Ends Loss Streak"

The UB volleyball team snapped a 14-match losing streak with a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 win over the Miami RedHawks Friday night in Alumni Arena.

The Bulls claimed their first MAC victory of the season over the RedHawks with a big-time rally late in the match.

Miami dominated game one, racking up seven service aces. The RedHawks (8-19, 1-13 MAC) showed superior ball control and defense. Buffalo (7-15, 5-8 MAC) put up little resistance in the first game allowing Miami to coast to an easy 30-17 victory.

Much to the home-crowd's excitement, the Bulls started to show some life in game two. Tension began to rise as the Bulls were able to catch up with Miami's high-octane offense, and bring the score to 13-13.

However, immediately following Buffalo's 13th point the RedHawks struck back with a 5-0 run to go up 18-13. With few opportunities to reclaim the lead from the RedHawks, the Bulls found themselves unable to get any closer than two points, and Miami cruised to an easy 30-24 final in game two.

Buffalo entered game three one game away from extending their losing streak to fifteen games when back-to-back block assists by the duo of junior Katie Weekley and sophomore Nikki Morzenti proved to be just what the Bulls needed to turn the tables on the RedHawks. The pair of blocks gave the Bulls a 17-16 lead for the first time in what seemed like an eternity.

"The swinging moment was definitely in the third game when we got two blocks right in a row," said senior Molly Schrantz. "The crowd got really loud and the momentum really picked up for us."

Nikki Morzenti was able to break a 21-21 tie with a kill. She went on to serve and gain six straight points to put the Bulls ahead 28-21 en route to the 30-23 victory.

Firing on the momentum from the victory in game three, but still just one game away from losing the match, the Bulls proved to be unstoppable in game four. Buffalo rallied early in the game posting a lead of 7-3.

Junior Katie Weekley made a substantial contribution to the team's win, putting up six kills and four blocks to lead the Bulls to a 30-27 win that tied the match and forced the fifth and deciding game.

"Going into game five was very intense. We've been wanting a win the whole season so we were all dying to get there," said Schrantz. "We knew we had to play composed and not over-play which was exactly what we did."

It was apparent in game five that Weekley was determined to deliver the Bulls a victory. After her impressive performance in game four, the junior had three kills and one block for four of the Bulls' first five points in the final and deciding game.

Buffalo posted an early 5-2 lead but it was unclear if they would be able to maintain it. Another block by Weekley and freshman Tammy Jul?(c) gave Buffalo a 13-9 lead, and the Bulls' final two points in the game came on Miami attack errors. The team's combined effort led to the Bulls winning the fifth game 15-11 and upsetting Miami for the victory.

"We kept a good lead the entire game and played a good consistent game of volleyball," said Schrantz. "(Coach) Kus just wanted us to play smart, consistent, and from the heart."

Though snapping a 14 game losing streak is always a great feeling, the Bulls' victory was not the only reason to celebrate following the match. Senior Molly Schrantz recorded 11 kills, 10 digs and four blocks.

Schrantz's seventh dig was the 1,000th dig of her career. She is just the ninth player in UB volleyball history to reach that mark.

"It feels great to win the last home game. I thought the best part was that everyone on the team contributed to that win," Schrantz said. "Everyone played well and it's going to be a real moral booster for us as we enter the last leg of the season and playoffs."

Freshman Tammy Jul?(c) led the Bulls with a career-high 21 kill on 45 attacks while also adding 11 digs and five blocks. Weekley added a career-high 18 kills and a match-high 11 blocks. Morzenti finished with 17 kills and 10 digs. Junior setter Amy Brown recorded 58 assists and 17 digs, and freshman libero Lizaiha Garcia finished with a team-high 23 digs.

The RedHawks were led by Tara Buroker who had 20 kills and a match-high 24 digs and Jenna Staun with 17 kills and 17 digs. Carli Reihman added 13 kills, 10 digs and eight blocks.

Buffalo now hits the road for its final two matches of the regular season. The Bulls play at Kent State on Nov. 12th and at Bowling Green on Nov. 13th.