BUFFALO, NY – Liz Schultheis (Holley, NY/Brockport) and Samantha Coakley (Lockport, NY/Lockport) had nine kills apiece to lead the Buffalo State women's volleyball team to a three-set sweep of Houghton in the opening match of the 2021 Buffalo State Bengal Challenge on Friday night.


THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State def. Houghton 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-19)
LOCATION:  Sports Arena – Buffalo, NY
RECORDS:  Buffalo State (3-5), Houghton (1-3)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Schultheis had her nine kills on just 13 attacks for a .692 hitting percentage.
• Along with her nine kills on a .444 hitting percentage, Coakley also had two aces and was extremely efficient in serve receive situations, going 11-12 in her reception attempts.
• Riley Domin (Getzville, NY/Williamsville South) handed out 19 assists, had eight digs, and added three service aces to lead Buffalo State in all three categories.
• McCartney Geartz had five kills on six attempts and was a dominant force at the net with two solo blocks and four assisted blocks.
• The Bengals never trailed in the first set on the way to a 25-20 victory. They scored the first four points and pushed the lead to as large as 10 points in the set.
• Trailing 8-7 in the second set, the Bengals inserted Myah Platler (Syracuse, NY/Solvay) as a substitute. Platler served to her spots as the Bengals scored four straight points to take a 11-8 that they wouldn't relinquish the rest of the set.
• Buffalo State fell behind 7-3 in the third set but hit .514 as a team in the final set to overcome the early deficit for a 25-19 victory.
• The Bengals set season highs in hitting percentage (.402) and total blocks (12).

FOR THE FOES

• Alyssa Lyon led the Highlanders with seven kills

UP NEXT
Buffalo State continues play at the Buffalo State Bengal Challenge tomorrow. They take on Alfred University at 11 a.m. and Wells College at 3 p.m.