Bulls Sweep Niagara in Spring Volleyball

[dj_paige]

The UB Volleyball team, coming off their most successful season ever in the MAC, in which they advanced to the MAC Tournament Semi-Finals for the first time ever, return almost the entire starting lineup. And against Niagara today at Alumni Arena, Buffalo took all five sets and looked as good as you might expect in an exhibition match after last year.

The only regular starter who does not return is outside hitter Cali Assaley, who has no more eligibility. Assaley's spot in the rotation was taken by freshman Manoela Forlín, a 6–3 Brazilian who played internationally on the Brazil Under-19 team and won silver medals at both the Pan-American games and the South American championships. To give some perspective, Brazil is one of the giants of international volleyball, having won two gold and one silver medal in the last four Olympics. The fact that Forlín made the Brazil Under-19 team indicates that someone felt she has the talent to play for the Brazil national team some day. To give even more perspective, I am not aware of any MAC player current or past who has played on the USA Under-19 team.

Forlín played opposite for Brazil — in the United States, the opposite position is called the right side position — and since Buffalo already has a strong right side in junior Emma Gielas, Forlín moved to the outside hitter position for Buffalo. Since international rules are different than NCAA rules, opposites/right sides in international play have to play back row defense, unlike most right side hitters in the USA, and so moving Forlín to outside hitter where she had to return serve and play back row didn't seem to be a problem. In fact, Forlín attacked well, blocked well, served well, and returned serve and played back row defense well. An all-around solid performance today from Forlín. In fact, in the fourth set, Forlín only played back row, and in one very long rally, made a rather spectacular one-handed rescue, while diving away from the net; something she repeated in the fifth set; but on the unspectacular plays of serve receive and back row defense, Forlín usually put up very nice passes.

Freshman outside hitter Manoela Forlín

The star of the match for UB was senior middle blocker Abby Leigh. In the fall season, Leigh finished third in the MAC in hitting percentage, fifth in blocks per set and first in solo blocks. Leigh continued to attack well and block well today and was most likely Buffalo's leading scorer. Since no stats were kept, and since it is April 1st, I am going to claim with a straight face that Abby Leigh had 37 blocks. If stats had been kept, I think Abby Leigh most likely had a double-double in blocks and kills.

Her sister, sophomore setter Mandy Leigh most likely had a double-double as well, in assists and kills. So if you are keeping score at home, that's a double double-double for the Leigh family. Mandy Leigh was extremely aggressive on offense, attacking regularly, including her trademark no-look behind the back setter dump, at least two full swing kills, and one pineapple. (Yes, in volleyball there is a shot called a pineapple, its not an April Fool's thing). Her career high during the fall season is 8 kills. I captured one of her full swing kills on video, Leigh is wearing #3.

Other strong performances for the Bulls were from freshman middle blocker Tehya Shaw and Gielas. Shaw missed the entire fall season recovering from a surgery, and so this was the first time UB fans got to see Shaw. She attacked well, both on the slide and in front of the setter, and blocked well. Gielas, who led the Bulls in kills per set a year ago, looked in mid-season form. In the first set, Gielas picked up four of UB's first five points, three coming on kills and one on a block. Last year, Buffalo ran a special play for Gielas, in which she would attack from the front row middle, which was rarely effective, but Gielas scored on this play several times, including the second play of the match. Buffalo's other right side, Stacia Gollogly, also scored on this play.

Buffalo's back row defenders also played well, looking very smooth and effective. Buffalo used three liberos in the match, sophomore Maria Futey, junior Hayley Montoya and sophomore Julianna Lopez. Any of those looked like they could start for UB based on their performance today.

Buffalo won the first set 25–22 leading the entire way. In the second set, Buffalo led 24–20 but then Niagara scored four straight points to tie the set, three of those points coming on attack errors by Forlín (two shots out of bounds, and one into the Niagara block). But Forlín made up for it with a solo block and then Mandy Leigh finished the set with a kill. In the third set, Buffalo ran out to a 19–4 lead, and won easily. The fourth and fifth sets were much closer, with Niagara tying the set late and even briefly taking the lead, but Buffalo stayed composed, went to their best players, and won sets 4 and 5, each by two points.

Notes:

• Senior middle blocker Courtney Okwara was not in uniform. She did play a few weeks ago in the exhibition match against Canisius, which because of a blackout on campus, the match ended late in the first set.
• Buffalo coach Scott Smith brought his approximately two-year old son to the match. Several times during the match, Smith had to get up from his position on the UB bench and chase after the young lad, who decided he wanted to explore the corners of Alumni Arena.
• No referees were used. Players used the honor system on block touches, and it seemed to work well.
• Two incoming freshman have not joined the team yet — setter Liv Gravatt and defensive specialist Chloe Brown.
• Assistant coach Aaron Gordon, just hired recently, was present and hard at work.
• Buffalo plays exhibition matches at Cleveland State on April 22nd and at Army on April 29. The road trips were funded by crowdfunding.

Edited April 1, 2023 by dj_paige

[UBinMD]

4 hours ago, dj_paige said:

The UB Volleyball team, coming off their most successful season ever in the MAC, in which they advanced to the MAC Tournament Semi-Finals for the first time ever, return almost the entire starting lineup. And against Niagara today at Alumni Arena, Buffalo took all five sets and looked as good as you might expect in an exhibition match after last year.

The only regular starter who does not return is outside hitter Cali Assaley, who has no more eligibility. Assaley's spot in the rotation was taken by freshman Manoela Forlín, a 6–3 Brazilian who played internationally on the Brazil Under-19 team and won silver medals at both the Pan-American games and the South American championships. To give some perspective, Brazil is one of the giants of international volleyball, having won two gold and one silver medal in the last four Olympics. The fact that Forlín made the Brazil Under-19 team indicates that someone felt she has the talent to play for the Brazil national team some day. To give even more perspective, I am not aware of any MAC player current or past who has played on the USA Under-19 team.

Forlín played opposite for Brazil — in the United States, the opposite position is called the right side position — and since Buffalo already has a strong right side in junior Emma Gielas, Forlín moved to the outside hitter position for Buffalo. Since international rules are different than NCAA rules, opposites/right sides in international play have to play back row defense, unlike most right side hitters in the USA, and so moving Forlín to outside hitter where she had to return serve and play back row didn't seem to be a problem. In fact, Forlín attacked well, blocked well, served well, and returned serve and played back row defense well. An all-around solid performance today from Forlín. In fact, in the fourth set, Forlín only played back row, and in one very long rally, made a rather spectacular one-handed rescue, while diving away from the net; something she repeated in the fifth set; but on the unspectacular plays of serve receive and back row defense, Forlín usually put up very nice passes.

Freshman outside hitter Manoela Forlín

The star of the match for UB was senior middle blocker Abby Leigh. In the fall season, Leigh finished third in the MAC in hitting percentage, fifth in blocks per set and first in solo blocks. Leigh continued to attack well and block well today and was most likely Buffalo's leading scorer. Since no stats were kept, and since it is April 1st, I am going to claim with a straight face that Abby Leigh had 37 blocks. If stats had been kept, I think Abby Leigh most likely had a double-double in blocks and kills.

Her sister, sophomore setter Mandy Leigh most likely had a double-double as well, in assists and kills. So if you are keeping score at home, that's a double double-double for the Leigh family. Mandy Leigh was extremely aggressive on offense, attacking regularly, including her trademark no-look behind the back setter dump, at least two full swing kills, and one pineapple. (Yes, in volleyball there is a shot called a pineapple, its not an April Fool's thing). Her career high during the fall season is 8 kills. I captured one of her full swing kills on video, Leigh is wearing #3.

 

Other strong performances for the Bulls were from freshman middle blocker Tehya Shaw and Gielas. Shaw missed the entire fall season recovering from a surgery, and so this was the first time UB fans got to see Shaw. She attacked well, both on the slide and in front of the setter, and blocked well. Gielas, who led the Bulls in kills per set a year ago, looked in mid-season form. In the first set, Gielas picked up four of UB's first five points, three coming on kills and one on a block. Last year, Buffalo ran a special play for Gielas, in which she would attack from the front row middle, which was rarely effective, but Gielas scored on this play several times, including the second play of the match. Buffalo's other right side, Stacia Gollogly, also scored on this play.

Buffalo's back row defenders also played well, looking very smooth and effective. Buffalo used three liberos in the match, sophomore Maria Futey, junior Hayley Montoya and sophomore Julianna Lopez. Any of those looked like they could start for UB based on their performance today.

Buffalo won the first set 25–22 leading the entire way. In the second set, Buffalo led 24–20 but then Niagara scored four straight points to tie the set, three of those points coming on attack errors by Forlín (two shots out of bounds, and one into the Niagara block). But Forlín made up for it with a solo block and then Mandy Leigh finished the set with a kill. In the third set, Buffalo ran out to a 19–4 lead, and won easily. The fourth and fifth sets were much closer, with Niagara tying the set late and even briefly taking the lead, but Buffalo stayed composed, went to their best players, and won sets 4 and 5, each by two points.

Notes:

• Senior middle blocker Courtney Okwara was not in uniform. She did play a few weeks ago in the exhibition match against Canisius, which because of a blackout on campus, the match ended late in the first set.
• Buffalo coach Scott Smith brought his approximately two-year old son to the match. Several times during the match, Smith had to get up from his position on the UB bench and chase after the young lad, who decided he wanted to explore the corners of Alumni Arena.
• No referees were used. Players used the honor system on block touches, and it seemed to work well.
• Two incoming freshman have not joined the team yet — setter Liv Gravatt and defensive specialist Chloe Brown.
• Assistant coach Aaron Gordon, just hired recently, was present and hard at work.
• Buffalo plays exhibition matches at Cleveland State on April 22nd and at Army on April 29. The road trips were funded by crowdfunding.

Great information, thank you. Looks like the program continues to move forward!

[ChubbyHubby]

Did Katrin see the court?  Unusual for a right up on a 5 set match and not see her name.

[dj_paige]

I'll try to be diplomatic here: KT played but was not a big contributor

Edited April 2, 2023 by dj_paige

[ChubbyHubby]

That's unusual