GREENVILLE, PA – The Buffalo State men's volleyball team swept their tri-meet, dropping the Geneva College Golden Tornadoes in five sets, 3-2, before closing out the Thiel College Tomcats in four sets, 3-1.

GAME ONE BASICS

FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 3, Geneva College – 2
SET SCORES: (25-16, 25-18, 20-25, 26-28, 15-8)
LOCATION: Maenpa Court at Beeghly Gymnasium – Greenville, PA
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 13-2 (3-0 AMCC), Geneva College: 6-12 (0-3 PAC)

INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Gavin Wilczewski (East Aurora, NY/East Aurora) led the Bengals with ten kills, while Brady Bowman (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) added seven kills in support.
• Drew Bowman (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) played the main facilitator, dishing out 36 assists in the matchup.
• Defensively, Xzavier Vanderstouw (Baldwinsville, NY/CW Baker) picked up 13 digs to lead the Bengals, with Wilczewski picking up 12 digs. At the net, Kaden Strong (Buffalo, NY/West Seneca East) added seven total blocks to lead the Bengals.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After battling the Penn State Behrend Lions in a five-set win, the Bengals took to the road as they partook in the Thiel Tri-Match, with their first matchup coming against the Geneva College Golden Tornadoes.
• The first two sets would be dominated by the Bengals, who'd cruised out to strong leads in both sets before closing out the Golden Tornadoes to take a two-set lead, with a sweep in play.
• However, the Golden Tornadoes wouldn't go down without a fight; in the third set, they responded to every Bengals run with runs of their own, taking the set from the Bengals.
• This would repeat into the fourth set, as the Bengals would fight off an early Golden Tornadoes lead. A four-point rally would give the Bengals some momentum late, with the race to '25' saw both sides pick up the intensity. A three-point rally from the Bengals would put them in position to close out the Golden Tornadoes; however, a strong response by the foe would see them close out the set with a three-point rally of their own, forcing a fifth set between these two sides.
• In the fifth set, both teams traded points before the Bengals won the 'race to eight' and took control of the momentum. This race would lead to a four-point run by the Bengals to close out the Golden Tornadoes in five sets and win their first match of the night.

FOR THE FOES

• Owen Kelley led the Golden Tornadoes with 13 kills, while Andrew Ubinger picked up 32 assists.
• Defensively, Joshua Stowe led with 17 digs, with Daniel Spear adding eight total blocks at the net.

GAME TWO BASICS

FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 3, Thiel College– 1
SET SCORES: (25-23, 13-25, 25-22, 29-27)
LOCATION: Maenpa Court at Beeghly Gymnasium – Greenville, PA
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 14-2 (3-0 AMCC), Thiel College: 12-7 (3-0 PAC)

INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• B. Bowman led all players with 18 kills, while Wilczewski finished with 11 kills in support.
• D. Bowman continued his hot hand as facilitator, finishing with 40 assists to lead all players.
• On the defensive end, Vanderstouw led the Bengals with 11 digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After grinding out a five-set series with Geneva College, the Bengals looked to settle the score with the Thiel College Tomcats, who gave the Bengals their first loss of the season.
• In the first set, the script from the last time these two teams faced off would be repeated, as points were traded at a premium to start the set. A three-point run would give the Bengals some breathing room from the Tomcats, before adding another three-point run to take a serious advantage in this matchup. While the Tomcats would respond with a four-point rally late in the set, the Bengals created enough distance to close out the Tomcats and take the first set.
• In the second set, the Bengals would fall behind early, with the Tomcats taking full advantage, cruising to take the second set behind back-to-back four-point runs.
• In the third set, the Bengals looked to shake off that rough set, but would fall behind early in play. A strong five-point rally would put the Bengals back within play of the Tomcats, as both sides would trade points before stalling at 22 a side. A three-point run from the Bengals would give them the set win, as they seek to close out the Tomcats in four sets.
• The fourth set would find the Bengals fighting to stay within striking distance in the early portion of the set, as the Tomcats looked firmly in control of play. With the Tomcats five points away from forcing a fifth set, the Bengals would respond with a four-point rally, before tying this matchup at 21 apiece. A late run of point trading saw both sides feed off a ruckus crowd, keeping the intensity and emotions high. This would be all the Bengals needed as they closed out the Tomcats on a three-point run to sweep the night and avenge an early-season loss.

FOR THE FOES

• Ezra Oesterling led the Tomcats with 17 kills, while Will Zimmerman picked up 12 in support. Ben Lowell led the Tomcats with 24 assists.
• Defensively, Zimmerman finished with 11 digs, with Kaleb Proudfoot picking up seven total blocks at the net.

UP NEXT
The Bengals will continue their weekend road showdown, traveling to Ohio to take on #10 Baldwin Wallace University and the University of Mount Union tomorrow evening. The Bengals will take on the Yellowjackets at 5:30 PM before finishing their night against the Purple Raiders at 7:30 PM.