Box Score Buffalo, N.Y. –The Mountaineers (8-0) closed out competition at the WNY Invitational in Buffalo, New York, on Sept. 11, with a win over Buffalo (4-4), at Alumni Arena. The Mountaineers secured the match, 3-1, in set scores of 25-23, 25-15, 22-25 and 25-21.
 
The squad closed the tournament with a 3-0 tournament record and holds on to their undefeated season.
 
For the 10th time in program history, West Virginia faced Buffalo, now holding a 10-0 series advantage over the Bulls. 
  
"It was a good weekend," said coach Reed Sunahara. "It's nice to play these matches, but more importantly, we need to keep learning more about ourselves. We will continue to work on our weaknesses and make our strengths better. We have a big week ahead of us."
 
The Mountaineers earned two double-doubles in today's match. Senior outside hitter Natali Petrova secured her eighth career double-double, and first of the season after recording 14 kills and a season-high 15 digs. Petrova also led the squad with two service aces.
 
She was followed by senior setter Lacey Zerwas, who recorded her 23rd career double-double and third of the season. Zerwas earned 43 assists and ten digs.
 
Four Mountaineers tallied double-digit scores against Buffalo. Fifth-year middle blocker Briana Lynch recorded 15 kills and a season-high of eight blocks. She was followed by senior outside hitter Kristin Lux who matched her season-high of 12 digs.
 
Redshirt senior setter Adrian Ell recorded 11 kills. Ell also matched her season-high of six blocks and recorded a season-high of five assists.
 
With a season-high of 22 digs in the match, senior defensive specialist Alexa Hasting also recorded a season-high of six assists.

The Mountaineers posted 61 kills for a .258 hitting efficiency, along with 13 team blocks in the win. The Bulls had 47 kills for a .179 hitting efficiency and seven team blocks. Of note, Buffalo's Maria Futey led the Bulls with 14 kills and two aces, while also tallying 15 digs.

The University of Buffalo opened the match, but West Virginia answered back with a 3-0 scoring run and held the lead early on. The teams alternated points until UB went on a 3-0 scoring run to take the lead, 17-18 and forced a WVU timeout. The Mountaineers did not give up and tied the game at 21-21. A Mountaineer 3-0 scoring run brought the set to a WVU set point, 24-22. UB tried to hold on, but a kill from Petrova secured the first set for WVU with a 25-23 score.
 
A 3-0 scoring run for the Mountaineers opened set two, and WVU did not look back. A few more scoring runs secured the 16-7 lead. Buffalo cut West Virginia's lead in half but could not catch up. A pair of WVU kills secured the set for the Mountaineers, 25-15.
 
WVU opened the third set with a 2-0 scoring run, but UB followed with one of their own. After traded points, Buffalo went on another run to secure the lead for most of the set. A pair of kills from Lux put WVU within two points of UB, 17-19, but the Bulls responded with a pair of kills of their own. After a WVU timeout late in the set, the Mountaineers went on a 3-0 scoring run to hold the Bulls at set point, 22-24. Ultimately, Buffalo secured set three, 22-25.
 
The fourth set began with the team's alternating points. Buffalo went on a 4-0 run to take a 6-2 lead. Later on, WVU went on a 5-0 run to tie the match at 14-14. After a few traded points, the Mountaineers went on a 3-0 scoring run to secure a 20-17 lead. The run helped West Virginia secure the fourth and final set, 25-21.

Looking ahead, the Mountaineers will return to Morgantown for a three-match tournament, from Sept. 16-17, at the WVU Coliseum. West Virginia welcomes George Washington, UMBC, RMU and Penn State to the Mountaineer Invitational, as the squad squares off with George Washington on Thursday, Sept. 16 at 12:30 p.m. before facing the UMBC on Thursday at 5 p.m. Friday's finale will be a showdown between the WVU and Penn State at 7 p.m.
  
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