Buffalo Faces Akron, Ball State To Begin 2nd Week Of Conference Play

Press Release courtesy of Buffalo Athletics.

The University at Buffalo volleyball team returns to the court this weekend when they play a pair of matches beginning on Thursday evening when they host Akron.  UB will travel to Ball State on Saturday night.

The Bulls opened conference play 2-0 for the first time since 2014 and they were the only MAC East program to win both games during the opening weekend, and one of just three MAC teams overall.  Following victories over Ohio and Kent State, senior middle blocker Cassie Shado was named the MAC East Offensive Player of the Week as she hit .480 during the two matches.  Sophomore Polina Prokudina leads the Bulls in kills with 202, while freshman Andrea Mitrovic is second on the team with 171 kills and first with 19 aces.  Sophomore setter Scout McLerran has 529 assists, averaging 10.37 per set.  Junior Larra Bickelhaupt has a team-high 176 digs and is second on the team with 18 aces.

UB will conclude its three-match homestand when it hosts Akron on Thursday night at 7pm as the Athletic Department will be hosting Superhero Night.  The Zips are 5-9 on the season and 1-1 in MAC play as they opened last weekend with a 3-1 win over Kent State before falling 3-1 to Ohio on Saturday evening.  Kayla Gwozdz leads the team with 189 kills, averaging 3.63 per set.  Emily Weigand runs the offense with 502 assists and 21 service aces, while she is second on the team with 103 digs.  Taylor Sharrits leads the team with 197 digs.

Buffalo will then travel to Muncie, IN on Saturday night to play a Ball State team that enters Thursday night’s match vs. Toledo with a 2-0 record in the MAC West and a 10-5 record overall.  The Cardinals are a perfect 5-0 at home and they have four players in double figures in kills led by 156 from Brooklyn Goodsel, while Ellie Dunn is second on the team with 143 kills.  Amber Seaman has 544 assists and libero Kate Avila leads the team with 229 digs and 21 aces.

Admission to Thursday night’s match at Alumni Arena is free to the public, while both matches this weekend will air on ESPN3.