MELISSA PACE - The Spectrum

NEWS

Volleyball Cools Off at Kent

By MELISSA PACE | Nov. 15, 2004

The UB volleyball team had hoped to carry the momentum and the confidence it gained from its come-from-behind win against Miami of Ohio into this week's showdown at Kent State.However, the Bulls were soundly swept by the Flashes on Friday night, 3-0.The Bulls (8-20, 1-14 Mid-American Conference) started the match on a rough, although familiar note, losing the first game 30-23.Kent State (10-12, 7-8 Mid-American Conference) dominated the majority of the second game as well, taking an easy 30-18 victory.The third game appeared promising for the Bulls, but they were unable to finish off the Flashes.

NEWS

Women's Swim Team Loses MAC Home Opener

By MELISSA PACE | Nov. 15, 2004

The University at Buffalo women's swimming and diving team fell to Marshall in a close home meet on Friday afternoon by a score of 155.5-144.5.Three UB swimmers recorded career bests, but the team was unable to overcome Marshall's depth."We were going up against a much improved Marshall team," said UB head coach Dorsi Raynolds.

NEWS

Women's Swimming Falls to Miami

By MELISSA PACE | Nov. 10, 2004

The University at Buffalo women's swimming and diving team fell short in both of its meets this weekend.Miami of Ohio (1-0 overall, 1-0 Mid-American Conference) continued their 24 straight MAC dual meet victory streak by defeating UB 145-93 on Friday evening at the Corwin Nixon Aquatics Center.The Bulls (2-2, 0-2 MAC) suffered another loss in the same weekend, this time to Ball State (3-0, 2-0 MAC) on Saturday by a score of 193-107.UB dominated the diving events against the RedHawks, but was unable to continue throughout the rest of the meet, as the Bulls lost nine of 11 swimming events.UB's Tracy Hoover took the top spot in the one-meter diving competition with 216.95 points.

NEWS

Jacques Hunts Down Quarterbacks

By MELISSA PACE | Nov. 3, 2004

The job of a defensive end in football is much like the job of a bounty hunter.He's supposed to attack the offensive lineman and hunt the quarterback down at all costs, as a bounty hunter would track down a fugitive.Off the field, junior Phil Jacques is cool, calm and collected, but on the field he is aggressive, persistent and determined in his attempt to get to the opposing quarterback.When he was asked what position he wanted to play as a kid, Jacques knew one thing for sure; he wanted to play defense."I didn't want to play offense because I don't like to block.

NEWS

Women's Tennis Sends 3 to Major Tourney

By MELISSA PACE | Oct. 22, 2004

The Intercollegiate Tennis Association is having its women's East Regional Championship Tournament in Philadelphia this weekend, and normally, the UB team would be home watching with envy.But this year, Coach Kathy Twist is sending three of her players to compete in the ITAs.

NEWS

Star Defender Is All About Soccer

By MELISSA PACE | Oct. 15, 2004

Eat, sleep, and breathe soccer. That's what junior defender Pam Schneck does for the University at Buffalo's women's soccer team.Schneck said she was always kicking a soccer ball around as she grew up in the Long Island town of Dix Hills."I've been playing soccer since I was five years old and I still love playing just as much as the day I started," Schneck said.Most of her free time, dating back to the beginning of her childhood, has been spent playing soccer.

NEWS

Bearcats Break Men's Tennis

By MELISSA PACE | Oct. 13, 2004

The University at Buffalo's men's tennis team suffered two big setbacks over the weekend.First, they found out that their number one player, Randy Rocchio, would be out for the rest of the season due to an elbow injury.

NEWS

Volleyball Is In Schrantz's Blood

By MELISSA PACE | Oct. 8, 2004

Many athletes report getting involved in their sport because of the fact that their older siblings played.

NEWS

Inconsistency Plagues Volleyball

By MELISSA PACE | Oct. 4, 2004

The UB volleyball team suffered two disappointing losses this weekend. Northern Illinois beat the Bulls on Friday, and defending Mid-American Conference champion Ohio swept the Bulls on Saturday.Bulls KO'd by HuskiesThe Bulls (7-10, 0-4 MAC) lost to Northern Illinois on Friday night, by scores of 19-30, 23-30, and 27-30 to the visiting Huskies.Northern Illinois appeared to be a step ahead of the Bulls the whole night.

NEWS

Ortman Ready to Ace MAC Foes

By MELISSA PACE | Sep. 29, 2004

Kristen Ortman is a junior captain on the University at Buffalo's women's tennis team. She grew up only a few miles away from campus in Amherst and graduated from nearby Amherst High School.Her dad introduced her to the game of tennis when she was seven years old."I played almost every sport when I was younger and I started tennis because my dad wanted me to try it," Ortman said.Ortman went on a couple different recruiting trips for tennis, and it wasn't until the middle of her senior year of high school that she finally decided to play for coach Cathy Twist at UB.Though her freshman year wasn't the most statistically successful season the team has had, Ortman said that team's roster stands out in her mind more than any since."Freshman year the girls were awesome.