STATE COLLEGE, PA - The University at Buffalo volleyball team split its two matches on Saturday at the Nittany Lion Invitational, falling to Pittsburgh in the opener before defeating Robert Morris, 3-1 in the second match at Rec Hall. The Bulls are now 3-3 on the season.
The Bulls dropped the first contest of the afternoon to Pitt, 3-0, as the Panthers took the match 25-21, 25-16, 25-22. UB kept it close with Pittsburgh, who is currently 28th according to the most recent national poll of the AVCA. Senior Dani Silvers led the way with 13 kills for the UB, recording just two errors on 25 total swings. Marisa Hornbakeradded five kills and Kelsey Lueders had three kills and no errors against Pitt. Junior Lindsey Schlegel recorded 26 assists, while freshman Tori Beckman had a team-high six digs. The Bulls recorded five total team blocks, four of those coming from junior Kristin Bignell.
The Bulls hit even better in the second set with a .361 hitting percentage. Lueders was instrumental in the second set as she had eight kills through two. The Bulls dropped a tightly-contested third set 27-25. Although the Bulls didn't hit nearly as well in set three, UB blocked the ball much better and had 12 total team blocks through three sets.