By Brett DeNeve:
Buffalo State’s Women’s Volleyball team made history on Thursday with the program’s debut performance in the NCAA Playoffs against the University of Chicago at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Losing the first, second, and fourth sets, however, the lady Bengals had fallen to the Maroons. This brought their season to a final count of 25-10, a total good for the fourth highest single-season total in school history.
Is this by chance or is there something in the water? Considering this season followed a 2012 season of 26-8, with a perfect 6-0 in SUNYAC West divisional play, that lead them to the SUNYAC Championship match for the second time in school history, one might just chose the latter. The first time this occurred before then was in 1997.
When asked about the road to the NCAA Tournament, DePeters said, “I really just have to rely on the girls; they knew they wanted it and they did it.“
The Bengals gained their historical playoff birth by defeating top-seeded New Paltz in four sets. This came after the Bengals, seeded at number two, had earned a bye into the semifinals and faced off against 19-time SUNYAC Champions, SUNY Cortland. Buffalo State swept the competition in three sets.
As the score clock hit 23-20 Bengals during the New Paltz match, DePeters grabbed ahold of the shoulder of the nearby team manager and didn’t let go until those last two points fell for her girls.
Looking ahead, DePeters said to expect consistency from this program; “I don’t want our name to be known through our conference, but regionally. “
Her girls have been to the SUNYAC playoffs in 2011, the title fight in 2012 and 2013, winning it this year. Anyone she has returning to the hardwood gym floor is seasoned for another go at the NCAA tournament and her scouting has yet to do her harm.
“I look for a little bit of everything. I like seeing a girl that strives to win a match; every point counts,” DePeters said.
Congrats lady Bengals on making history and best of luck for doing it again.