WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

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Nikki Morzenti

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo volleyball team put forth a gutsy performance but was denied its first Mid-American Conference victory of the season by visiting Toledo tonight in Alumni Arena. The Rockets (16-10 overall, 5-8 MAC) held on for a 3-1 victory after winning game one by a 30-25 score. Buffalo (7-19 overall, 0-13 MAC) tied the match with a 30-27 win in game two before falling 30-23 and 30-24 in the final two games of the match. Sophomore Nikki Morzenti (Safety Harbor, FL/Clearwater) led the Bulls with 14 kills and eight digs.

Toledo stormed out to a 10-1 lead in game one before the Bulls strung together a 9-4 run to get within four, 10-14. The Rockets then used a 6-1 run to pull away for good en route to the 30-25 victory.

UT jumped out to an early lead in game two also, 6-2, but the Bulls then went ahead for good thanks to a 7-0 run. Buffalo led by as many as eight, 20-12, but the Rockets would not go quietly as they got within one on several occasions late in the game. Sophomore Jenna Mapé (Calgary, Alberta/Father Lacombe) had two of her career-high five kills in the match for the Bulls' final two points in the 30-27 win that tied the match at one game apiece.

Game three was back-and-forth early on with neither team leading by more than one point before Toledo broke a 14-14 tie with a 3-0 run that would give it the cushion it needed. The Bulls tied the score at 21-21 and 22-22, but the Rockets held on for the 30-23 win.

Game four started out much the same way as game three, but this time it was the Bulls who pulled away for a commanding 15-8 lead midway through. The Rockets battled back, however, first tying the match at 16-16 and then taking the lead at 18-17 on a Buffalo attack error. Toledo gradually pulled away to end the match with a 30-24 win.

In addition to Morzenti's 14 kills, senior Molly Schrantz (Depew, NY/Lancaster) also reached double digits with 12 kills and seven digs. Freshman libero Lizaiha Garcia (Dayton, OH/Beavercreek) had a team-high 20 digs, and junior setter Amy Brown (Pittsburgh, PA/Mt. Lebanon) finished with 39 assists. Sophomore Lauren Burd (York, PA/Central York) had four kills and a team-high five blocks.

Toledo had three players reach double figures in kills, led by Rachel Mohler with 19. Kate Bean had 15 kills, and Kelsey Culver added 13 kills and a match-high six blocks. Libero Lora Sarich finished with a match-high 21 digs.

The Bulls are home again tomorrow night when they host Miami (OH) at 7 pm. The match is Buffalo's final home match of the 2004 season.