BUFFALO, NY – The Buffalo State women's volleyball team stormed back against the Houghton University Highlanders, 3-1, picking up a much-needed win on their home floor.
GAME BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 3, Houghton University – 1
SET SCORES: (22-25, 25-15, 25-19, 25-19)
LOCATION: Sports Arena – Buffalo, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 5-9 (0-0 SUNYAC), Houghton University: 5-8 (0-0 Empire 8)
INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE
- Ella Wittman (Cheektowaga, NY/Springville-Griffith) continued her strong play from the previous weekend, leading all players with 18 kills. Marcello Rosetti (Endicott, NY/Maine-Endwell) finished with 12 kills in support.
- Following Wittman's lead, Alex Arroyo (Nesconset, NY/Smithtown East) also continued her strong play, finishing the night with 33 assists to lead all players.
- Defensively, Sophia Page (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) and Delia Lake (Kenmore, NY/Kenmore West) dominated in front of the net, with Page finishing with six total blocks and Lake adding five. Hailey Kulniszewski led all players with 19 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After a rocky weekend on the road in Ithaca, the Bengals returned to the Sports Arena as they hosted the Houghton University Highlanders in nonconference action.
- In the first set, the Bengals got off to a hot start, racing out to an early lead behind five-straight points. The hot play would continue, as the Bengals followed up with another run, this time putting together six-straight points to take a commanding lead over the Highlanders. However, the Highlanders would find their way back into the matchup, ripping off four-straight points before going on a nine-straight point run to take the lead late. While the Bengals would respond with another three-straight points, the momentum had already swung the Highlanders' way, as they closed out the Bengals and took the first-set win.
- The second set saw the two teams repeat the game flow from the previous set, with the Bengals storming out first before a Highlanders run would cool them off. However, this time, the Bengals held their composure during the Highlanders' run, taking advantage of some Highlander mistakes to rattle off four-straight points and retake the lead. From there, the Bengals closed the set strong, cruising past the Highlanders to even the match at one set apiece.
- In the third set, both sides began with trading points, as each team looked for a mistake to take advantage of. That mistake would come from the Highlanders, as the Bengals rallied for four-straight points to take a late lead before closing the set with six-straight points to claim the third-set victory.
- In the fourth and final set, the Bengals took advantage of the momentum swing, controlling most play throughout the set and keeping their foot on the gas to close out the nonconference bout. While the Highlanders would try to find opportunities to force a fifth set, the Bengals kept their play steady and strong, closing out Houghton and picking up a much-needed win back on their home floor.
FOR THE FOES
- Alexa Belanger led the Highlanders with 15 kills, while Morgan Brace finished with 29 assists.
- Defensively, Petra Thomas finished with three total blocks, while Praylan Perkins led the Highlanders with 14 digs.
UP NEXT
The Bengals will look to close out their nonconference portion of the schedule in winning fashion as they head to Houghton University for a rematch at 1:00 PM, before taking on St. John Fisher University at 3:00 PM this Saturday, October 3rd.
