Get To Know: UB Women's Volleyball

As a member of New York's Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, Buffalo's Volleyball team hired Amherst native Bob Maxwell as coach. Maxwell served as coach for 18 years winning as UB moved to Division III in 1982, Division II in 1988, Division I in 1991 and to the MAC conference in 1998. Maxwell retired with a 409-285-8 record and began his second career as an athletic administrator for UB.

Maxwell's teams won 59% of their matches during his 18 years, but the  transition to the MAC were not kind to UB Volleyball. Nadine Lilavols, legendary Sweet Home High Volleyball coach Sally Kus, and Jim Lodes tried to match the success of Maxwell, but the three coaches won only 26% of their matches.

Todd Kress came to Buffalo in 2009 after stints at NIU and Florida State. In his first year UB won 16 matches, highest win total at UB since 1997. The next year, UB won 18 matches, the most wins since 1996.

How UB Starts the Season Under Kress

Kress hit some turbulence during the last two years, winning only 21 matches combined. This year, UB Volleyball has made a statement, winning their first 10 matches in dominating fashion. However, the Bulls will face their toughest tests this week: UB hosts the Blue and White Classic taking on 10-1 Valparaiso, Friday at 7pm, 1-8, Maryland Eastern Shore Saturday at 1:30pm and 9-0, #13 Ohio State Saturday at 7pm. Next Friday at 7pm, Buffalo opens up MAC play at Alumni Arena against 8-1 #24 Ohio University.

Players to watch:

Tahleia Bishop - Sophomore - #18 - Whitby, Ontario

Bishop recorded 173 kills as a freshman, and has improved in 2013, already with a team high 114 kills, as a Sophomore.

Christine Fritsche - Senior - #9 - Parma, Ohio

Christine is 2nd on UB this year with 98 kills and 2nd on the team in Digs with 64.

Kelly Svoboda - Senior - #1 - Cleveland, Ohio

As Libero (defensive specialist) Kelly is in charge of digs, she leads the team with 190, a rate of 5.94 per game, which is over 1 dig per game higher than Tori Beckman's record 4.726 digs per game set in 2009. Kelly is also 2nd on the team with 13 service aces. Svoboda is only 385 digs shy of the UB career record, set in 2007 by Lizaiha "The Grave Digger" Garcia, who had 1,884 digs in her career.

Amber Hatchett - Sophomore - #4 - Chicago, Illinois

Anoter talented Sophomore, Hatchett has 5 solo blocks and 47 block assists to lead the Bulls in blocks.

Carissa Mckenna - Senior - #14 - West Bloomfield, Michigan

Carissa is 3rd on the team with 53 kills this year, and is 2nd on the team with 43 blocks.

Dani Reinert - Senior - #12 - Cincinnati, Ohio

Dani serves as the point guard, leading UB with 209 assists.

Taylor Pritchet - Junior - #16 - Apex, North Carolina

A transfer from Lees-McRae College, Taylor has been a valuable player off the bench, leading the team with 15 service aces, 2nd on the team with 168 assists, and fourth on the team in digs with 41.