Buffalo Bulls women's volleyball
| Buffalo Bulls Women's Volleyball | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | State University of New York at Buffalo |
| Conference |
MAC East Division |
| Location | Buffalo, NY |
| Head coach | Blair Brown Lipsitz (1st year) |
| Home arena | Alumni Arena (Capacity: 6,100) |
| Nickname | Bulls |
| Colors |
Royal Blue and White[1] |
- For information on all University at Buffalo sports, see Buffalo Bulls
The Buffalo Bulls women's volleyball team represents the University at Buffalo in NCAA Division I college volleyball.[2] The team participates in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Bulls are currently led by head coach Blair Brown Lipsitz,[3] a former Penn State player who was a three-time All-American and four-time National Champion and Big Ten Player of the Year with the Nittany Lions. Lipsitz, who was hired after the 2014 season, is in her first ever collegiate coaching job. The team plays its home games at Alumni Arena, located on the university's campus.[4]
Recent history
In 2013, under head coach Todd Kress, Buffalo finished 6–10 in the MAC, which was their most wins ever in conference; however they finished 9th in Conference because of unfavorable tie-breakers and so the Bulls did not advance to the Conference Tournament (only the top 8 teams advance). Kress was fired after the season.
In 2014, under head coach Reed Sunahara, Buffalo finished 6–10 again, but this time they were 8th in the Conference, and for the first time in program history, the Bulls qualified for the round of eight in the Conference Tournament. Buffalo lost to Western Michigan 3–0 in that tournament game. Sunahara resigned to coach at West Virginia.
Buffalo hired Lipsitz, who had never coached before at the collegiate level. Buffalo finished the 2015 season at 6–10 in the MAC again, but this time it was good for 7th place based on tie-breakers, the team's highest finish ever in the MAC. In the MAC Tournament, Buffalo lost to Ball State 3–1, marking the first ever victory in a set in a MAC Tournament Round of 8 match in the team's history.
MAC honorees
Buffalo has had several players in recent history earn All-MAC honors. In 2011, right-side hitter Liz Scott[5] was named to the All-MAC Freshman team. In 2012, Scott was named to the All-MAC Second team. In 2013 and 2014, outside hitter Tahleia Bishop[6][7] was named First Team All-MAC. In 2013, libero Kelly Svoboda was also named First Team All-MAC. The awards to Bishop and Svoboda in 2013 were the first ever First Team All-MAC awards for any Bull. In addition, Svoboda was named MAC Defensive Player of the Year,[8] the only Bull to ever win a MAC individual honor in volleyball. In 2014, middle blocker Cassie Shado was named to the All-MAC Freshman team,[9] and in 2015 Shado and senior outside hitter Megan Lipski were named All-MAC Honorable Mention.[10]
References
- ↑ "Color Palette". University at Buffalo. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
- ↑ "Women's Volleyball". UBBulls.com. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
- ↑ "Blair Brown Lipsitz". UBBulls.com.
- ↑ "Alumni Arena: Volleyball Sport-Court". UBBulls.com. Retrieved 2014-03-12.
- ↑ "Liz Scott". UBBulls.com.
- ↑ "Tahleia Bishop". UBBulls.com.
- ↑ "Tahleia Bishop". UBBulls.com.
- ↑ "Svoboda Named MAC Defensive Player of the Year". UBBulls.com.
- ↑ "Cassie Shado". UBBulls.com.
- ↑ "Lipski and Shado Named All-MAC". UBBulls.com.