BUFFALO, NY – The #17 Buffalo State men's volleyball team split their tri-meet, sweeping the Carlow University Celtics, 3-0, to pick up their first AMCC win of the season, before falling to the Thiel College Tomcats, 3-2, to drop their first regular-season game of the year.

GAME ONE BASICS

FINAL SCORE: #17 Buffalo State – 3, Carlow University – 0
SET SCORES: (25-9, 25-17, 25-12)
LOCATION: Sports Arena – Buffalo, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 8-0 (1-0 AMCC), Carlow University: 0-9 (0-1 AMCC)

INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Ke'Vaun Callier (Rochester, NY/World of Inquiry), Kellen Palmer (Buffalo, NY/Canisius High School), and Colton Brown (West Seneca, NY/West Seneca West) all finished with four kills to lead the Bengals.
• Jackson Stang (Tonawanda, NY/Sweet Home) led the Bengals with 13 assists.
• Defensively, Gavin Walters (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home) and Xzavier Vanderstouw (Baldwinsville, NY/CW Baker) picked up four digs each to lead the Bengals.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a hard-fought win last night against St. John Fisher, the Bengals returned for a tri-meet with Thiel College and their first opponent of the day, the Carlow University Celtics, who would also be their AMCC opener.
• In the first set, the Bengals would dominate the Celtics in the first set, running out to a double-digit point lead behind a 12-point run. This would be enough to put the Bengals in cruise control, closing out the Celtics and claiming the first set.
• In the second set, the Bengals and the Celtics would open play with a three-point run before the Bengals stole the momentum with numerous rallies throughout the set. With the finish line in sight, a five-point run would push the Bengals through, picking up the second set win and eyeing a sweep in their AMCC opener.
• Three sets would be enough for the Bengals, opening to a 10-0 lead early, and they didn't look back. While the Celtics would pick up some points through the set, the deficit would be too much for them, as the Bengals finished strong and claimed a 3-0 sweep victory over the Celtics in their AMCC opener.

FOR THE FOES

• Gavin McLain led all players with seven kills, with Ryan Callahan leading the Celtics with 11 assists.
• Defensively, Jaen Michalski and Angelo Fernandez led the Celtics with four digs each.

GAME TWO BASICS

FINAL SCORE: #20 Thiel College – 3, #17 Buffalo State – 2
SET SCORES: (20-25, 25-23, 25-20, 20-25, 13-15)
LOCATION: Sports Arena – Buffalo, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 8-1 (1-0 AMCC), Thiel College: 9-4 (0-0 PAC)

INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Gavin Wilczewski (East Aurora, NY/East Aurora) led all players with 21 kills, with Kaden Strong (Buffalo, NY/West Seneca East) backing him up with ten kills.
• Drew Bowman (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) also led all players with 36 assists.
• On the defensive end, Vanderstouw led the Bengals with 16 digs, while Strong picked up two blocks at the net.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Picking up a win earlier in the day against the Carlow University Celtics, the Bengals returned for a tough bout against the #20 Thiel College Tomcats.
• In the first set, both sides would trade points in the opening portion of play. A five-point run from the Tomcats would give them the early advantage over the Bengals, who'd fought throughout the set but would ultimately fall short, dropping the first set.
• In the second set, the Bengals would respond appropriately, storming out of the gate with a seven-point run. While the Tomcats would stay even with the Bengals, answering with a five-point straight point rally of their own, the Bengals would keep their foot on the pedal and grind out a hard-fought second set win.
• In the third set, both sides would repeat play from the first set, trading points early and often, making it tough for either side to gain an advantage. Back-to-back three-point runs would give the Bengals some cushion, but the Tomcats would respond again with a four-point rally. However, the Bengals would finish strong, closing out the Tomcats on a three-point run to claim the set and put themselves in the driver's seat in this ranked matchup.
• While the Bengals looked to close out the Tomcats in four sets, the Tomcats wouldn't go away without a fight. A six-point run would give them a sizeable lead over the Bengals, as play reached the midway portion of the set. As the Bengals fought to even this one, the Tomcats did just enough to force a fifth set.
• In the final set, both sides would open with four-straight points, before the Bengals would find point eight first and give them the momentum needed to win this matchup in five. However, the Tomcats would find just enough will to chip away at the Bengals lead, before stealing the fifth set and dropping the Bengals for the first time this season.

FOR THE FOES

• Ezra Oesterling led the Tomcats with 14 kills, while Will Zimmerman picked up 11 in support. Eli Olszowka led the Tomcats with 23 assists.
• Defensively, Oesterling and Josh Hovan each finished with 11 digs, while Noah Leffingwell led with three blocks at the net.

UP NEXT
The Bengals will look to shake off this loss, as they hit the road for an AMCC bout against the Houghton University Highlanders on Tuesday, February 10th at 7:00 PM.