Big matches against Ohio at Alumni Arena, 6pm Friday Sept 29 and 4 pm Sat Sept 30, ESPN+. Ohio finished last year as the MAC #3 seed, Buffalo was the #6 seed, and Buffalo split two five set matches with Ohio last year, but then in the MAC quarterfinals, Buffalo won 3-1. Ohio picked 2nd in the MAC East in this year's coaches poll, Buffalo was 3rd. This year, Ohio has beaten some top 100 teams (according to Ken Massey) and had a bizarre loss to Akron who is ranked 227; and so Ohio right now (according to Massey) is ranked 127, while Buffalo is at 91. Ohio returns 3 All-MAC players, 6-4 middle blocker Caitlin O'Farrell, outside hitter Carline Clippard and right side Anna Kharchynska. Buffalo has only one all-MAC player, setter Mandy Leigh. Buffalo has beaten two top 100 teams (Missouri and St. John's, plus Colgate which was an exhibition match)