SUNYAC CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS – #5 BUFFALO STATE BENGALS AT #1 CORTLAND RED DRAGONS & #3 NEW PALTZ HAWKS VS #2 OSWEGO STATE LAKERS

Friday, November 14, 2025 – 4:00 PM & 6:30 PM
Whitney T. Corey Gymnasium – Cortland, NY

FOLLOW ALONG…
LIVE STATS
VIDEO (OFFICIAL SUNYAC BROADCAST)
 
LAST TIME OUT… In the SUNYAC Championship First Round, the Bengals defeated their 'Battle by the Lake' rival, the Fredonia Blue Devils, 3–2, to earn a trip to the SUNYAC Championship Semifinals.

THE MATCHUP… For the second consecutive season, the Buffalo State women's volleyball team has advanced to the SUNYAC Championship Semifinals! After defeating rival Fredonia in the first round, the No. 5 Bengals now face a major test as they take on the top-seeded Cortland Red Dragons.

This marks the 32^nd all-time meeting between the programs and their second matchup of the season. The Bengals are looking to snap a ten-year winless streak against the Red Dragons and earn their first trip to the SUNYAC Championship match since 2013. Cortland leads the all-time series, 29–2, dating back to 1990.
Buffalo State is making its second straight SUNYAC semifinal appearance, after defeating SUNY Morrisville, 3–2, in last year's semifinal following a first-round bye.

Cortland enters as the No. 1 seed and is aiming to complete a five-peat as SUNYAC champions.

The winner of Friday's semifinal will advance to the SUNYAC Championship match on Saturday, November 15th at 4:00 p.m.

LAST TIME WE MET… In their previous meeting this season, the Bengals fell 3–1 in their SUNYAC opener of the 2025 season.
Ella Wittman (Cheektowaga, NY/Springville Griffith) led the Bengals' offense with a team-high 10 kills, while Nicole Delli Colli (Rye, NY/Rye) added strong support with nine kills.

Karlie Shaffer (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown East) directed the attack with 18 assists, and April Jakubowski (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) chipped in 13 assists of her own.

On the defensive end, Autumn Flanders (Gansevoort, NY/South Glens Falls) paced the Bengals with nine digs, while Wittman and Shaffer each recorded eight. At the net, Delaney McCarthy (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West) anchored the front line with four block assists.

The Bengals opened SUNYAC play with a championship rematch against defending champion Cortland Red Dragons. The Bengals took the first set after a strong late push, but the Red Dragons regrouped to win the next three. Despite several rallies and competitive stretches, the Bengals couldn't overcome the Red Dragons' late-set runs, falling 3–1 in their conference opener.

THE BENGAL BREAKDOWN… At 15–15 overall and 5–4 in SUNYAC play, the Bengals look to continue their postseason push with a win over the Red Dragons as they chase their first SUNYAC Championship since 2013.

Buffalo State finished third in the conference with 11.62 kills per set and sits second in the SUNYAC with 10.84 assists per set, showcasing one of the league's most efficient and balanced offenses.

Defensively, the Bengals remain a force, ranking second in the conference with 15.90 digs per set. With statistical depth on both sides of the ball, the Bengals position themselves as a formidable opponent entering postseason play.

STARTING OFF HOT… Junior outside hitter Ella Wittman (Cheektowaga, NY/Springville Griffith) led all players across the two SUNYAC Championship first-round matches with 19 kills in the Bengals' victory over the Blue Devils. Wittman continues to lead the Bengals' offense with 407 kills on the season.

Senior outside hitter Nicole Delli Colli (Rye, NY/Rye) has been a steady force alongside Wittman, posting a career-best 206 kills (1.98 per set) this season, the highest total of her Bengal career.

RESEARCHING THE RED DRAGONS… Cortland enters the postseason as the top seed in the SUNYAC Playoffs after finishing the regular season 22–7 overall and a perfect 9–0 in conference play.

Statistically, the Red Dragons ranks first in the SUNYAC with 12.60 kills per set, while defensively sitting sixth with 15.40 digs per set and first with 2.17 blocks per set.

Offensively, the Red Dragons are powered by Kira Pirrera, who averages 3.89 kills per set (3.66 in conference play), with Emmalee Ballou adding 2.63 kills per set (2.66 in conference play).

On the defensive side, Alyssa Rich anchors the back row with 4.44 digs per set (4.45 in conference play), while Anna Lynch leads the blocking unit with 1.09 blocks per set (1.33 in conference play).

With a win over the Bengals, the Red Dragons would be one step closer to completing the five-peat, having claimed the SUNYAC Championship in each of the past four seasons.

RESEARCHING THE LAKERS… Oswego State enters the postseason as the No. 2 seed in the SUNYAC Playoffs after finishing the regular season 19–8 overall and 7–2 in conference play.

Statistically, the Lakers rank second in the SUNYAC with 11.63 kills per set, while defensively leading the conference with 17.43 digs per set and sitting third with 1.62 blocks per set.

Offensively, the Lakers are led by Priscilla McReynolds, who averages 3.00 kills per set (3.14 in conference play), while Kalley Vugteveen adds 2.71 kills per set (2.39 in conference play).

Defensively, Jordyn Lewis anchors the back row with 3.35 digs per set (4.53 in conference play), and Alaina Dudzinski leads the front line with 0.89 blocks per set (1.03 in conference play).

With a win over New Paltz, the Lakers would advance to their first-ever SUNYAC Championship match in program history.

RESEARCHING THE HAWKS… New Paltz enters the postseason as the No. 3 seed in the SUNYAC Playoffs after finishing the regular season 16–12 overall and 6–3 in conference play.

Statistically, the Hawks rank fifth in the SUNYAC with 10.45 kills per set, while defensively sitting fourth with 15.76 digs per set and sixth with 1.35 blocks per set.

Offensively, the Hawks are powered by Reagan Dyba, who averages 2.75 kills per set (3.00 in conference play), with Maria Weigand contributing 2.07 kills per set (2.31 in conference play).

On the defensive end, Jordyn Lewis anchors the back row with 3.35 digs per set (4.53 in SUNYAC play).

With a win over the Oswego State, the Hawks would return to the SUNYAC Championship for the first time since 2023.
 
SCHEDULES/RESULTS…

#1 CORTLAND RED DRAGONS: 22-7 (9-0 SUNYAC)
#2 OSWEGO STATE LAKERS: 19-8 (7-2 SUNYAC)
#3 NEW PALTZ HAWKS: 16-13 (6-3 SUNYAC)
#5 BUFFALO STATE BENGALS: 14-15 (5-4 SUNYAC)