ROCHESTER, NY – The Buffalo State women's volleyball team opened play at the University of Rochester Tournament tonight sweeping RIT before falling in four set to host Rochester at the Louis Alexander Palestra.
 
GAME 1 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 3, RIT – 0
SET SCORES: (25-12, 25-17, 25-18)
LOCATION: Louis Alexander Palestra – Rochester, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 2-4 (0-0 SUNYAC), RIT: 2-3 (0-0 Liberty League)
 
INSIDE THE BENGAL BOXSCORE

• Ella Wittman (Cheektowaga, NY/Springville Griffith) led the Bengals with a match-high seven kills and nine digs.
• Erin Mergler (Amherst, NY/Williamsville North) and Eden Harrison (Eldersburg, MD/Century) each chipped in six kills.
• Karlie Shaffer (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown East) led the way with 15 assists.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Both sides would make it a back-and-forth affair as the opening set was knotted at 7-7.
• Harrison would secure a kill to start and end a 7-0 Bengals run to give Buffalo State a 14-7 edge.
• RIT attempted to claw back but the Bengals finished the first set on a 6-1 run.
• The second set saw similar action as it both teams stayed competitive until Buffalo State burst for a 6-1 run.
• The Tigers attempted another comeback but fell short as Whittman delivered the final blow in the second set.
• The final set proved to be the most competitive as RIT hung around until the end.
• Buffalo State would score five of the last seven points to earn the sweep.

 
FOR THE FOES

• Mia Gerber led the Tigers with six kills.
• Sydney Neff dished out five digs to lead RIT.

 
GAME 2 BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Rochester – 3, Buffalo State – 1
SET SCORES: (16-25, 25-17, 26-28, 25-27)
LOCATION: Louis Alexander Palestra – Rochester, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 2-5 (0-0 SUNYAC), Rochester 4-1 (0-0 UAA)
 
INSIDE THE BENGAL BOXSCORE

• Harrison and Wittman led Buffalo State with 12 kills each.
• Wittman also contributed 19 digs for the Bengals.
• Shaffer tallied 19 assists while Riley Domin (Getzville, NY/Williamsville South) added 18 of her own.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Rochester dominated early opening the match with a 10-3 lead.
• The Yellowjackets kept the pressure on and took the first step despite an attempted comeback from the Bengals.
• The Bengals bounced-back early in the second set jumping out to an 8-3 advantage capped off by a kill from McCartney Geartz (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda
• Rochester attempted to climb back into the action but the Bengals never saw their lead less than five to win the second set.
• The third set proved to be the most competitive set of the night.
• After Buffalo State jumped out to a 9-4 lead, the Yellowjackets came back into the action and ended in a back-and-forth effort.
• Both teams held tough until Rochester scored the last two points to win the third set.
• The Bengals led most of the final set before Rochester stormed back to secure the match.

 
FOR THE FOES

• Ruby Moore paced Rochester with 13 kills.
• Alexia Nelms had a strong showing dishing out 30 assists.

 
UP NEXT
The Bengals return to action tomorrow as they wrap-up the tournament with a battle against Keuka beginning at 12:00 pm.