ONEONTA, N.Y. - Senior Casey Biggers (Holtsville, NY/Sachem East) sent in a career-high 21 kills as the Oneonta women's volleyball team fell 3-1 to Buffalo State on Friday evening. The Red Dragons (8-11, 1-5 SUNYAC) looked in control after winning the first set 25-15 and then lost a thrilling second set, 34-32. Buffalo State (11-6, 4-2 SUNYAC) won the following sets 25-22 and 25-23. 

Oneonta opened with a 5-0 run with kills from Ashanti Davis (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Hendrick Hudson) and two aces by Annalisa Alicea (Poughkeepsie, NY/Arlington). A kill from Buffalo State's Samantha Coakley broke the streak, but the Red Dragons scored the following eight points. Oneonta built up to a 16-8 lead after kills from Clara Culeton (Oswego, NY/Oswego) and Colleen McCabe (Rockville Centre, NY/Oceanside). Junior Isabella Fabrizio (Highland Mills, NY/Cornwall) kicked off a 4-0 run, and then a block from Fabrizo and Davis made it 21-10. Biggers added another kill and Oneonta earned the set win following a Bengals' attacking error. 

Buffalo State took an early lead in the second before a Davis kill got Oneonta on the board. Carsyn Rachuta (Holbrook, NY/Sachem North) tacked on an ace, and then a Bengals error tied 3-3. Five more ties followed, and Oneonta used a 6-0 run comprised of two Biggers' kills and another Alicea ace to take a 14-9 lead. Buffalo State answered with a 5-0 run, and both sides traded leads 29-29. Kills from Eden Harrison and Liz Schultheis put the Bengals up 31-30. Culeton tied again after a kill to make 32-32, but the Bengals scored the final two points. 

The Red Dragons took a 13-10 lead in the third after a pair of Fabrizo kills and a block from Davis and Fabrizio. Buffalo State answered with a 6-0 run due to some Oneonta errors to maintain the lead. Two kills by Culeton cut the lead to 22-20, and then Davis tallied a kill to make it 24-22. Buffalo State's Harrison recorded the final kill. 

Davis sent in a kill to make it 16-13 in the fourth, and then CUleton recorded two straight kills to give Oneonta an 18-17 advantage. A Bengals' error made it 23-21, but Oneonta gave up the final four points. 

Culeton added 15 kills, while Davis had ten kills with three blocks. Alicea finished with a match-high five aces, and Rachuta grabbed 16 digs with four aces. Biggers earned the double-double with 21 kills and 15 digs. Kayla Rende (Wantagh, NY/Wantagh) dished out 46 assists. 

Oneonta looks to bounce back tomorrow when they host Fredonia at 1 p.m. in Dewar Arena.  Read Full Article