Hamilton, N.Y. - UConn volleyball continued their impressive start to the 2024 season, as they defeated Buffalo on Sunday morning in 4 sets to move their record to 6-0.
The Huskies fell behind early in the first set, bothered by errors and strong play from Buffalo on the offensive end, as the Bulls took a 15-10 lead into the timeout. Consistent with the theme of the weekend, UConn battled back, as the combination of Emma Werkmeister, Taylor Pannell, and Audrey Rome chipped in kills to bring the Huskies level at 20-20. Buffalo miscues and Pannell's strong closing effort lifted UConn in the first set, 25-22.
A back and forth second set was kicked off by UConn kills from Pannell and Jess Perry. A mid-set run in the second set, punctuated by multiple aces from Abby Leigh and Katrin Trebichvaska gave the Bulls another 5-point lead. Blocks from Rome and Loren Winn, along with consecutive Werkmeister kills knotted up the second set at 21 apiece. However, it was Buffalo that took a late momentum surge that tied up the match at 1-1 on the day.
Aces from Werkmeister and McKenna Brand, and another block from Rome got the Huskies rolling early in a critical third set, building a 10-7 lead over Buffalo. Rome kept the positive momentum going with consecutive kills that took UConn into the media timeout with a five-point lead. From, there it was all Huskies in the third set, as Werkmeister's four kills emphatic with two aces helped UConn bounce back and take the third set, 25-14.
The tandem of Winn and Rome again combined for multiple blocks on the defensive end, while aces from Brenna Wyman and Doga Kutlu got the Huskies ahead with a seemingly comfortable lead, 14-7. However, Buffalo did not go away, rattling off six of the next seven points to push UConn into a timeout, with the Huskies still leading by two. Two would be as close as it got in the fourth set, as Pannell, Rome, Werkmeister, and Grace Maria all dialed up the pressure for UConn, as they took the set and match, continuing their torrid start to the 2024 season, starting their season 6-0 after notching only 8 wins all year in 2023.
Up Next: UConn returns home still undefeated to host the Dog Pound Challenge at the UConn Volleyball Center, as they take on Delaware State (9/13), UAlbany (9/14), and Dartmouth (9/15). Buffalo travels to Columbus to play in the Ohio State Buckeye Invite, where they will take on host OSU, Wright State, and Miami (FL).
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