HOUGHTON, NY—Buffalo State (24-10) used a four-set victory to defeat host Houghton (15-12) this morning, and then completed the three-match tournament undefeated with a resounding three-set win over Utica (9-24).
Buffalo State defeated the host Highlanders in the morning match, 25-21, 25-16, 23-25 and 25-19, using 14 blocks to control play at the net.
Sam Parente (E. Patchogue/Bellport) and
Jessica Crooks (Niagara Falls/Niagara-Wheatfield) dominated the front court. Parente finished with 11 kills and four blocks, while Crooks had 10 kills and seven blocks.
Hannah Renaldo (N. Collins/N. Collins) had a double-double with 10 kills and 11 digs, and chipped in three blocks.
Jennifer Cecchettini (Hamburg/Frontier) finished with 22 assists and 13 digs, and
Rachelle Kelchlin (West Seneca/St. Mary's) had a team-high 21 digs.
The Bengals rolled over Utica in the late match, 25-12, 25-15 and 25-16. Crooks had eight kills and three blocks to lead Buffalo State. Parente and
Kayla Pyc (Grand Island/Grand Island) added seven kills each, and
Britt Hallett-Jonathan (Basom/Akron) dished out 27 assists.
Buffalo State will ride the momentum of a three-match winning streak as the No. 6 seed into the SUNYAC playoffs and will face No. 3 Cortland on Friday, Nov. 7 at 3 p.m. Top-seeded New Paltz will host the entire championship on Nov. 7-9.
