Volleyball Splits Two Matches Against Northern Illinois

[dj_paige]

Junior right side Stacia Gollogly
Photo Credit: Mark Debortoli

On Friday night, the UB Women's Volleyball team struggled greatly against Northern Illinois, and was swept by the Huskies 25–20, 25–21 and 25–18. This was the Bulls' fourth loss in the last five matches, all losses via a sweep. The Huskies picked up their 8th straight win.

Buffalo could only manage a 0.054 hitting percentage against Northern Illinois. Only one player, senior middle blocker Courtney Okwara, hit above 0.200. Buffalo's other middle blocker, senior Abby Leigh, leading the team in scoring so far this year, only managed 2 kills and only had 12 attack attempts. The problem was that the Bulls passing was poor, and the offense was not in system very often. Fifth year outside hitter Cali Assaley led the team with 9 kills and sophomore outside hitter Katrin Trebichavská had 8 kills. Sophomore setter Mandy Leigh had 23 assists. Okwara and both Leighs had 4 blocks. Mandy Leigh led the team with 16 digs.

After that match, where the Bulls led on only one play the entire match, Buffalo fans could be excused if they were totally surprised by what happened next.

In the second match, on Saturday, Buffalo responded with some of their best passing of the season, and pulled of a sweep of their own (25–23, 25–22 and 25–21), allowing the Huskies to lead for just three plays during the match. In each set, Buffalo withstood rallies by the Huskies which brought them close to the Bulls late in the set, but Buffalo never surrendered the lead. It was a very poised team response to the Huskies rallies. In the final set, after Buffalo led by 3 at 17–14, the Huskies came back to close within one point at 22–21, but then the Bulls finished the match scoring the last three points, the final point coming on an ace by sophomore libero Maria Futey.

The strong passing enabled Mandy Leigh to get her middle blockers and right-side attacker much more involved in the offense. Abby Leigh had 9 kills and just one error on 19 swings, Okwara had 11 kills and just one error on 19 swings and junior right side Stacia Gollogly had 11 kills and just 2 errors. The Bulls hit 0.284 as a team. Trebichavská had 14 kills to lead the team, nine coming in the first set. Mandy Leigh had 18 assists in the first set (a huge number for one set, especially compared to just 23 for the entire previous match), and 44 assists for the match (again, that's a big number for three sets).

Futey led the team with 17 digs, while Mandy Leigh had 15 and Assaley had 12. Gollogly and the two middle blockers each had two blocks.

The Bulls are now 2-3 in the MAC and 10–7 overall. They play next weekend at Toledo on Friday and Ball State on Saturday.

Notes:

• Trebichavská entered the match leading the MAC in aces and in aces per set, but had a huge number of service errors. In the first match, after two service errors by Trebichavská in the first set, she was replaced in the serving rotation by junior defensive specialist Emilie Davis, who at the time was 8th in the MAC in aces per set. Davis scored an ace on her first serve and did not commit a service error the rest of the way. In the second match, Trebichavská served the entire match, had 1 ace and 1 error.
• Futey has been putting up some very good numbers since taking over the libero position. She has 51 digs in 12 sets, that's well over 4 digs per set, which would make her 6th in the MAC if you just count games at libero (but she has played other positions, which brings her average down).

Edited October 2, 2022 by dj_paige

[dj_paige]

Don't take my word for it, but Mandy Leigh is pretty darn good, winning MAC East Setter of the Week

https://twitter.com/MACSports/status/1577015241828757504

This is the 3rd time this season Mandy Leigh has earned this award. (edited)

 

Edited October 4, 2022 by dj_paige