BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo State men's volleyball team split their home tri-match, suffering a loss to the #19 Baldwin Wallace University Yellow Jackets, 1-3 but closing out their night with a, 3-0, sweep over the Houghton University Highlanders.
 
GAME ONE BASICS

FINAL SCORE: #19 Baldwin Wallace – 3, Buffalo State – 1
SET SCORES: (26-24, 17-25, 20-25, 13-25)
LOCATION: Sports Arena – Buffalo, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 9-10 (0-0 AMCC), #19 Baldwin Wallace: 12-6 (2-0 MCVL)

INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Offensively, Malachi Jackson (Buffalo, NY/Cheektowaga) led the Bengals 15-kills in the game, with Jackson Stang (Tonawanda, NY/Sweet Home) racking up 25-assists.
• Defensively, Alex Vega (Cambita Garabitos, Dominican Republic) led the way with nine-digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Opening the tri-match with a strong opponent in the #19 Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets, the Bengals looked for some early momentum and steal a win. Opening the first set, the Bengals and the Yellow Jackets played 'hot potato' with points, as neither side were able to take an advantage in this matchup. However, a four-point rally found the Bengals up by four set points, before putting the final nail in this set and leading early 1-0.
• The second set would find these two teams going toe-to-toe, similar in the first set, with each team looking to take advantage of the other's mistakes. However, this time it would be the Bengals on the receiving end of the mistakes, as the Yellow Jackets would propel themselves with a four-point rally to take the second set and tie this matchup at 1-1.
• The third set would see the Yellow Jackets surge out to an early lead over the Bengals, but credit to the Bengals for their drive as they would respond with a four-point rally to tie this matchup. Unfortunately, the Bengals would find themselves behind another rally from the Yellow Jackets, this time a five-point rally and take the third set from the Bengals.  
• In the fourth set, the Bengals struggled to keep up with the Yellow Jackets, who raced out to 16-4 set point lead over the Bengals. While the Bengals clawed their way back into the game, it was "too-little, too-late" as the Yellow Jackets clinched their win over the Bengals in four sets, 3-1.

 FOR THE FOES

• Daniel Latham led the Yellow Jackets with 13-kills, with Ted Hofmeister right behind with 12-kills.
• Defensively, Colby Whiteside led with three-blocks for the Yellow Jackets.  

GAME TWO BASICS

FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 3, Houghton University– 0
SET SCORES: (25-20, 25-19, 25-20)
LOCATION: Sports Arena – Buffalo, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 10-10 (0-0 AMCC), Houghton University: 0-14 (DIII Independent)

INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Xzavier Vanderstouw (Baldwinsville, NY/CW Baker) led the Bengals with 11-kills, with Jackson Stang (Tonawanda, NY/Sweet Home) staying hot with a 32-assists performance.
• Defensively, Keiran Eagen (Buffalo, NY/West Seneca West) and Brady Bowman (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) each were credited with a block, while Caden Crosier (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West) led with six-digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a tough outing against the #19 Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets, the Bengals looked to their matchup against the Highlanders for a boost of morale and momentum. Opening the first set, the Bengals kept the Highlanders in the game with some early mistakes. Both teams would trade points continuously, before the Bengals turned on the jets in route to a three-point rally and clinch the first set win.
• In the second set, the Bengals and the Highlanders battled for supremacy as each team traded points through the match. However, a four-point rally allowed the Bengals to jump up on the Highlanders, before two three-point rallies would give the Bengals the set win, with a sweep in play.
• In the third set, the Bengals opened strong with a five-point rally over the Highlanders, before a response from the Highlanders brought them back into this matchup. As play continued, the Bengals got their feet underneath them and gutted out a final set win to sweep the Highlanders in three-games.

FOR THE FOES

• Devin Cline led the Highlanders with nine-kills.
• Jerry Buno tallied 21-assits to lead the Highlanders.

UP NEXT
The Bengals will get some rest, before taking a trip to Puerto Rico, competing against three-teams, including the University of Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras, on Friday, March 14^th with their first game beginning at 1:00 P.M.