HOUGHTON, NY – In a rematch of a game that happened only 11 days ago in Buffalo, the Buffalo State Bengals earned an identical result, defeating the Houghton Highlanders on their home court, 3-0.
 
The Bengals opened the first set with a five-point run and never looked back, leading 11-2 early on, and racing to a first set victory, 25-14.
 
The second set proved much closer up to the midway point.  Tied, 12-12, Buffalo State reeled off five straight points, and moments later, added four straight, going on to win the set, 25-17, to take a 2-0 lead.
 
Houghton continued to battle, leading throughout the first half of the third set, trying to fend off a Bengals rally.  With the Highlanders clinging to a slim, 15-13 lead, the Bengals did exactly that, peeling off five straight points to go up, 18-15.  Houghton eventually closed the gap to within a point, 20-19, but the Bengals offense proved too strong, winning the final set, 25-20.
 
Ella Whitman pounded out a match-high 15 kills for the Bengals, and added 10 digs for a double-double. 
 
GAME VITALS
Match Score: Houghton – 0 | Buffalo State – 3
Records: Houghton: 4-8 | Buffalo State: 10-6
Set Scores: 14-25, 17-25, 20-25
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton University | Attendance: 115

NOTABLE STATS
>> Ainslie Reimer led the Highlanders with 11 kills and eight digs, while Emma Cole collected six kills on 13 attacks (.462 attack percentage) without an attack error.
 
>> Morgan Brace posted 15 assists, and Logan Baer added 13 more.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"Tonight we were on the chase.  Nerves got the best of us in the first set and it got us behind early.  We need to start every match with high intensity and confidence, which was something we did bring in the third set.

"Now we have time before our next match to focus on something to prepare us for conference play!" -- Head Coach Haley Unverdorben

UP NEXT
The Highlanders travel to Utica University on Wednesday, October 4, to take on the Pioneers at 7:00 p.m. in the first Empire 8 match of the year for both teams.