HOUGHTON, NY – The Buffalo State women's volleyball team split their final nonconference contests of the regular season, falling to St. John Fisher University, 3-1, before sweeping Houghton University, 3-0.
GAME ONE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: St. John Fisher University – 3, Buffalo State – 1
SET SCORES: (21-25, 19-25, 26-24, 20-25)
LOCATION: Nielsen Center – Houghton, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State University: 5-10 (0-0 SUNYAC), St. John Fisher University: 11-6 (2-0 Empire 8)
INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE
- Ella Wittman (Cheektowaga, NY/Springville-Griffith) led the Bengals with 14 kills, with Anel Acosta (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) following up with eight kills.
- Alex Arroyo (Nesconset, NY/Smithtown East) led the Bengals with 28 assists.
- Defensively, Hailey Kulniszewski (Elma, NY/Iroquois) led the charge with 17 digs, while Wittman and Dani Dury (Amherst, OH/Marion L. Steele) both finished with 12 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Buffalo State University Bengals returned to the road, as they partook in the Houghton Tri-Match, with their first contest of the day coming against the St. John Fisher University Cardinals.
- Opening the first set, the Bengals would get off to a fast start, rattling off three-straight points to take an early lead over the Cardinals. The Cardinals would respond with back-to-back runs of four and five straight points to take the lead from the Bengals. As play continued, the Bengals would attempt to claw their way back into the matchup, but a three-straight point run from the Cardinals would give them the first set win.
- The second set saw the Bengals play from behind, as the Cardinals would jump out to an early lead behind a six-straight point run. The Bengals would return the favor, however, going on back-to-back runs to draw themselves even as play entered the middle of the set. As both sides fought to claim the set, it would once again be the Cardinals who crossed the finish line first, taking the second set from the Bengals.
- In the third set, the Bengals wouldn't go out without a fight, rallying for eight straight points to take a commanding lead over the Cardinals. However, as play continued, the Cardinals would find themselves back in the matchup, using a four-straight point rally to take the lead. The Bengals would respond strongly, using mistakes from the Cardinals to find their way back out in front before claiming the third set win.
- In the fourth and final set of this matchup, both sides would start off hot with four-straight point runs. As one side would feel the momentum wave, the other side would respond, and as play reached the midway point, neither side looked to give an advantage. However, a four-straight point run from the Cardinals would go unanswered, as the Bengals would fall in the fourth set and lose this hard-fought matchup.
FOR THE FOES
- Kaylene Noble led the Cardinals with 18 kills, with Zofia Keogh finishing with 43 assists to lead all players.
- Defensively, Adeline Phillips led all players with 28 digs.
GAME TWO BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 3, Houghton University – 0
SET SCORES: (25-19, 25-20, 25-12)
LOCATION: Nielsen Center – Houghton, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State University: 6-10 (0-0 SUNYAC), Houghton University: 6-10 (1-1 Empire 8)
INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE
- Wittman, once again, led the Bengals and all players with 15 kills.
- Arroyo would lead all players as well with 23 assists.
- Defensively, Kulniszewski led all players with 10 digs, while Sophia Page (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) would lead the Bengals with four block assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a tough outing in the first matchup against the St. John Fisher Cardinals, the Bengals would take on the hosts, Houghton University Highlanders, in a rematch of their previous matchup in the Sports Arena, where the Bengals won, 3-1.
- As the first set of action began, the Bengals would take control of this matchup with the Highlanders, getting out to a strong start and early lead. While the Highlanders would respond with a four-straight point run, the Bengals would answer with their own three-straight point run to retake the lead. As play continued, the Bengals would firmly have their foot on the pedal, closing out the first set behind a four-straight point run to take the set win.
- The story would remain the same in the second set, as the Bengals would respond to an early Highlanders run with back-to-back three-straight point rallies. As each side would trade points throughout the set, the Bengals would find an advantage behind Highlanders' mistakes, closing out the second set on another five-straight point run to take the set win.
- In the third and final set of play, the Bengals would flex their dominance, jumping out early on the Highlanders before a six-straight point run would be followed by a four-straight point run. This would be all she wrote in this contest, as the Bengals would close out the set and sweep the Highlanders in three sets.
FOR THE FOES
- Alexa Belanger led the Highlanders with nine kills, while Morgan Brace led with 21 assists.
- Defensively, Praylan Perkins and Paige Brennan each finished with nine digs.
UP NEXT
The Bengals will earn a nice rest before returning to action in their SUNYAC home opener, when they host the Cortland Red Dragons on Friday, October 9 at 6:00 p.m. in the Sports Arena.
