The Buffalo State volleyball team couldn’t have asked for a more promising sign heading into conference
play this weekend.
The Bengals (11-3) went a perfect 4-0 in the Ducks Invitational last weekend, downing host Stevens
Institute of Technology, Farleigh Dickinson, Kean and York (Pa.).
“I’m really pleased. We squeezed out a couple of big wins in a couple matches which was really great,”
head coach Maria DePeters said. “This is the first time Buff State went undefeated in a non-conference
tournament, so we’re very pleased.”
Friday’s early match against Stevens proved to be the most difficult for the Bengals. Buffalo State looked
to be in control after taking a 2-0 advantage, but Stevens fought back to tie the match. Sam Parente said
despite relinquishing the lead, the team remained positive.
“We were very positive in the huddle and we kept each other’s heads up,” Parente said. “We trust each
other on the floor.”
The Bengals took the fifth set to prevail 25-20, 25-22, 17-25, 25-27 and 26-24. Parente, Sarah Horvath
and Hannah Renaldo each had 11 kills to pace a very balanced Buffalo State offense. Sherrell McLean
contributed ten kills.
“We really try to run a balanced offense just as much as we want to run a quick offense,” DePeters
said. “We want to establish certain hitters and then send the ball to other hitters to create more one-on-
one opportunities.
“I am not a coach that says the ball has to go to a certain player all the time.”
Kelsey Bashore had 32 assists and 11 digs. Rachelle Kelchlin anchored the team’s defense with 20 digs.
Despite the lengthy opening match, the Bengals rolled past Farleigh Dickinson 25-16, 25-16 and 25-15
in the late contest. Chelsea Pietrzykowski led the Bengals with nine kills. Hannah Santoro had 25 assists
and five service aces.
On Saturday, the Bengals defeated both Kean and York (Pa.) in four sets to finish the weekend
undefeated.
In the early match, Parente had 12 kills in leading the Bengals to a 25-13, 21-25, 25-19 and 21-15 victory
over Kean. McLean bolstered the Bengals attack with eight kills and seven blocks. Chelsea Moore had a
team-high 21 digs while Horvath and Kelchlin contributed 15 and 14 digs, respectively.
Against York (Pa.), Parente and McLean had 17 and 11 kills, respectively, en route to a 25-20, 25-17, 23-
25 and 25-16 victory. Jennifer Checchettini had ten kills and Moore finished with 21 digs.
Bashore and McLean both earned All-Tournament honors. DePeters spoke highly of their play.
“Sherrell was very, very consistent. She brought a lot of energy to every match and was key in blocking,”
DePeters said of McLean.
Bashore, whose 7.53 assists-per-game lead the Bengals, also earned her coach’s praise.
“Kelsey really stepped up defensively in her play and was the leader of the team offensively,” DePeters
said.
Buffalo State opens its SUNYAC schedule this weekend at Geneseo with a match against Brockport on
Friday and Oswego and Fredonia on Saturday. Bashore believes the team still has work to do heading
into pool play.
“We have to work on connecting and being consistent. We have to make sure our back row and our
front row are on at the same time,” she said.
Like their weekend in New Jersey, the Bengals went undefeated in the first round of SUNYAC pool play
last year. Bashore recognized that as a result, her squad has a target on its back.
“Everyone is expecting to beat us this year – everyone wants to beat Buffalo State,” Bashore said. “The
biggest goal is to not be big-headed, stay calm and play the game that we want to play. The other team
can’t play it for us.”
Tom Gallagher can be reached by email at gallagher.record@live.com.