WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

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Bulls Take Two At WNY Invitational

Lauren Fensten

In what was the game of the tournament, UB was down to Coastal Carolina 2-0, but took the final three games to win, 29-31, 26-30, 30-25, 30-19, 15-10. UB used two strong serving performances including one by freshman Lauren Fensten (Centennial, CO/Smoky Hill). Fensten came in with Buffalo ahead 21-18 in the fourth game and scored eight straight points, putting UB ahead 29-18. UB would then take the game on a Coastal Carolina attack error. In the fifth and deciding game, senior Brandie Clark (Medicine Hat, Alberta/Medicine Hat) began serving with the game tied 9-9 and served the Bulls to five straight points and a 14-9 lead in the game. Sophomore Alyssa Fitchette (Watertown, NY/Watertown/Genesee CC) sealed the deal for UB with a kill to end the match.

Brandie Clark

The beginning of the match belonged to junior Lizaiha Garcia (Dayton, OH/Beavercreek) as she became just the tenth player in UB volleyball history to surpass the 1,000-dig mark for her career. Garcia finished the night with a match-high 29 digs, which is one off her career high.

Despite having a tough time with their hitting efficiency, the Bulls took it to Coastal Carolina when they need to, out-hitting the Chanticleers .556 to .136 in the fifth game. Fitchette joined Jenna Mapé (Calgary, Alberta/Father Lacombe) and senior Nikki Morzenti (Safety Harbor, FL/Clearwater) in double-digit kills as Mapé and Morzenti each had 14 and Fitchette finished with 10. Furthermore, Mapé and Morzenti each finished with a double-double recording 12 and 13 digs, respectively.

Clark finished the match with a career-high 47 assists and also contributed with 17 digs. Freshman Kelsey Lueders (Littleton, CO/Chatfield) finished with nine total blocks as UB tied a season-high with 16 total team blocks. Six different Bulls contributed to the blocking total, including five total blocks from sophomore Colleen Egan (Abingdon, MD/John Carroll/Temple).

Lizaiha Garcia

Opening the day, the Bulls took a 30-20, 30-23, 30-28 decision against Youngstown State, using a strong first game to set the tone in the match. In the opening game, UB outhit its opponent .448 to .000. The Bulls would get slightly outhit the rest of the contest, but used their ability to block to their advantage. Buffalo recorded eight total team blocks, including five total blocks from Lueders.

Morzenti finished with a match-high 11 kills in that contest and Garcia with a match-high 13 digs. Clark put forth another strong performance, recording 40 assists against the Penguins, with eight digs.

The Bulls remain home following their success at the WNY Invitational, as they face Route 90 foe, Syracuse at 6:00 pm at Alumni Arena.