Volleyball Clinches MAC Tournament Berth on Senior Night

[dj_paige]

The UB Volleyball team clinched a MAC Tournament berth by defeating Miami 3–0 on an emotional senior night. The Bulls would be the #2 seed in the tournament if the season ended today. The team now has a 22–5 record, and 12–3 in the MAC.

The Bulls will say farewell to nine players at the end of the season. This team has accomplished more than any other team since joining Division 1, with an RPI in the top 100 for the first time ever, tying the program record for the most wins, and setting the record for the most MAC wins, with three matches left. The post-match celebration for Senior night also produced a lot of emotion, as each player was recognized for their contributions. Those nine are: Courtney Okwara, Abby Leigh, Emilie Davis, Julianna Lopez, Hayley Montoya, Katrin Trebichavská, Maurine Calande, Emma Gielas and Stacia Gollogly. In the post-match interview with ESPN, Trebichavská announced that she would be returning for another year.

The emotion began in the pre-game introductions, when it was announced that Miami coach Carolyn Condit would be retiring at the end of the season. She has coached for 44 years, the last 40 at Miami, and has won over 680 matches. Nine times Condit coached her team to an NCAA playoff berth. Condit received a large round of applause from the fans at Alumni Arena.

There was actual volleyball as well. On the previous night, Buffalo did not allow Miami to score 20 points in any set, but on this night it appeared as if Miami was determined not to roll over and play dead. The Redhawks cranked up their offense to scary levels, hitting over 0.700 throughout most of the first set. They did not commit an attack error until 19–17 in the first set, but then three straight kills by the Redhawks gave them a 22–17 lead.

After a kill by Abby Leigh to cut the lead to four, Lopez stepped to the line. Lopez has been one of the Bulls best servers all year, as her float serve gives defenders fits. Two strong serves took Miami out of their offense, resulting in kills from Abby Leigh and Trebichavská. Lopez followed this with the Play(s) of the Match™, back-to-back aces and another tough serve which led to an overpass that Abby Leigh turned into a kill. The Bulls led 23–22. One more point by Miami tied the set, and then Abby Leigh picked up another kill and then Abby Leigh and her sister Mandy combined for the Bulls first block of the night to win the set.

Both teams had eye-popping numbers in the first set, with Miami finishing at 0.552 and Buffalo at 0.484. The offenses slowed down just slightly in the second set, as both teams hit close to 0.400. However, in the second set the roles were reversed, with Buffalo opening a big lead at 22–16. Miami scored the next five points to cut the lead to one. A kill from Gielas was the Bulls' 23rd point, and two more Miami points tied the set at 23. Another kill from Trebichavská, followed by a kill from Abby Leigh on an overpass after a strong serve by Trebichavská ended the set in Buffalo's favor.

The third set was one in which Buffalo never trailed, opening a 14–7 lead on a strong serving run from Calande, and Buffalo was not threatened, winning 25–17.

In case you get the feeling that serving was a strong point for the Bulls, you would be right. Buffalo had 8 aces and only three service errors. In fact, it has been a strong point for the Bulls all season, and especially in recent matches. And while the high velocity serves from Trebichavská get all the attention, the serves from Lopez are slower but just as effective.

Trebichavská led the team in kills with 15. Trebichavská, a year ago, struggled quite a bit and finished the season hitting 0.109. Her consistency has improved dramatically this season, in which she is hitting 0.195, and usually leads the team in kills and attacks. KT's hitting percentage the last three matches has been over 0.300, and has 14 straight matches with double-digit kills.

Abby Leigh had 11 and hit 0.625. Okwara, leading the nation in hitting percentage, had five kills and zero errors. Freshman outside hitter Manoela Forlin had 6 kills. Abby Leigh led the team with 3 blocks. Junior libero Maria Futey had 10 digs. Mandy Leigh had 38 assists.

Other Stuff

Buffalo plays at Bowling Green this upcoming weekend, Friday, November 10 at 6pm (ESPN+) and Saturday, November 11 at 6pm (ESPN+).

Western Michigan will host the MAC Tournament. They remain undefeated with a 15–0 record in the MAC.

Attendance at Alumni Arena was 789, the highest of the season.

Other photos from Senior Night:

Head coach Scott Smith

Julianna Lopez serves

Blocking by Abby Leigh and Emma Gielas

KT serving, Buffalo's front line protects the back of their heads

Trebichavská attacking

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 5, 2023 by dj_paige