The Bulls tore through their MAC East opponents en route to earning an invitation to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, their first bowl bid since the 2008 season. Led by quarterback Joe Licata, running back Branden Oliver and projected first-round NFL draft pick Khalil Mack at linebacker, the Bulls gained national attention, particularly with Mack’s outstanding play in the season opener at Ohio State.
Senior Kelly Svoboda set a UB Division I single-match record with her 43-dig performance in a five-set loss to Toledo on Nov. 9. The MAC’s defensive player of the year holds program records for digs in a career (1,935) and season (626). She helped lead the Bulls to an 18-win season, only the second time they’ve reached that mark since 1996.
Freshman Russell Cicerone was named the MAC’s 2013 Newcomer of the Year in November. It was only the second time in UB’s history with the MAC that a player received a conference individual award. A midfielder, Cicerone had six goals and two assists for the Bulls, who finished 3-11-4.
The men’s program produced its first-ever MAC champion as senior Zach Ahart conquered the field and a sloppy course to claim the individual title in the 8K race at the MAC Championships in Bowling Green, Ohio. The women’s season was highlighted by their fourth-place finish out of 25 teams at the Princeton Invite in October.
Senior Anamaria Candanoza went 3-0 to win the Charlie Flight singles championship in September at the USAFA Women’s Tennis Invitational on the campus of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.