Campus Times Archives
The women’s volleyball team didn’t have to travel very far this past weekend, heading across town to Rochester Institute of Technology to compete in the RIT Invitational. It was, however, a busy and eventful weekend for the team. The women played four matches and won three of them.
Things didn’t start so hot for the Yellowjackets. Up against Trine University in the first of two games on Saturday, the women lost a hard-fought battle in four sets, taking the second set (25-21) but relinquishing the other three (23-25, 16-25, 16-25).
Junior Kelly Mulrey contributed nine kills to the effort, while sophomore Savannah Benton wasn’t far behind with eight. Junior Lauren Bujnicki, who leads the Yellowjackets in digs in the 2011 campaign, added 17 to keep several crucial rallies from falling through.
Later that day, the Yellowjackets returned to the court to take on SUNY Potsdam. Like in the Trine match, the outcome was determined in four sets, with the loser claiming just the second set. Unlike the match with Trine, however, UR was on the winning end this time around.
Mulrey was again a presence, pouring in 10 kills, eight aces and nine digs. Bujnicki put on an even greater performance than in the Trine match, this time supplying 22 digs. The real difference, however, was senior Casey Larsen, whose ruthless style of play earned her a game-high 14 kills.
UR returned to go two-for-two in competition on Sunday. The women quickly did away with Buffalo State University, sweeping the board 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-21). Sophomore Sara Ribakove had a standout game, leading the way with 13 kills and 10 digs. Larsen had 12 kills, and Bujnicki 15 digs. Senior Katie Kao played solid defense throughout the match, for the ‘Jackets, contributing one solo block and three block assists.
The team wrapped up the day by downing local rival Nazareth College, 3-1 (25-14, 20-25, 28-26, 25-22). The win snapped the Golden Flyers’ three-game winning streak, dashing the team’s hopes of claiming the team title.
UR took home third-place in the 12-team tournament, behind Trine and St. John Fisher College but ahead of University Athletic Association rival New York University, which finished fourth.
The ‘Jackets return to play on Friday, Sept. 23, when they take on Salisbury College and Rowan College in the opening rounds of the York Invitational in York, Pa.
Bernstein is a member of the class of 2014.
