Football

University of Virginia 50, UB 21

The UB football team may have lost a game on Saturday, but it gained confidence and a lot of respect in a 50-21 loss at Atlantic Coast Conference power Virginia before 40,100 fans in Scott Stadium in Charlottesville.

The Bulls, who came into the game as 49-point underdogs, weren't out of the game until midway through the fourth quarter and proved a point to the oddsmakers with a gritty and valiant effort. The Bulls trailed by only 10 points at halftime and, were it not for a goal-line stand by the Cavalier defense late in the third quarter, they may have made it even more interesting than the final score.

"As competitors, we will never be comfortable with losing at the University at Buffalo," said head coach Craig Cirbus after the game. "But as a head coach, I couldn't be more proud of the effort of this football team. It was exciting for this football program that at halftime we were talking about how we could win this football game, not about playing for respect.

"This team earned respect from Virginia today. I've always respected them, but today was about proving that they could play against this level of competition," said Cirbus.

Virginia struck first when quarterback Dan Ellis hit Kevin Coffey from 28 yards out with 7:42 remaining in the first quarter. That capped a six-play, 87-yard drive after the Bulls had moved to a first down on their first possession. The Cavaliers extended the lead to 17-0 before UB answered, cutting the lead to 17-7 with 8:00 remaining in the first half on an eight-yard run by Josh Roth to cap a drive full of trick plays.

On fourth-and-one at the Buffalo 40, backup quarterback Erik Rusin threw an 18-yard completion to sophomore Dahnel Singfield. Then on third-and-eight at the Virginia 40, Drew Haddad took a lateral and completed a 21-yard pass to Singfield. Haddad then caught a 13-yard pass from quarterback Joe Freedy to set up Roth's score.

Virginia extended its lead to 24-7 on an eight-yard touchdown toss from Ellis to Billy McMullen before Haddad sent shockwaves through the Virginia crowd with a spectacular 67-yard catch and run after a pass from Freedy.

Virginia (6-4) would take control of the game in the third quarter with a pair of scoring drives on their first two possessions as quarterback Dan Ellis would throw for his fourth and fifth touchdowns of the game.

The Bulls last chance to get back in the game ended when they failed to score on a 20-play drive that ended at the Cavaliers' seven-yard line when Freedy threw incomplete for Haddad. Haddad previously had caught a nine-yard reception on a fourth down play to keep the drive alive.

Two plays later, Ellis broke Virginia's school record with his sixth touchdown throw of the day as Heisman Trophy candidate Thomas Jones broke two tackles to go 84 yards for the clinching score.

Jones, who came into the game averaging over 165 yards rushing per game, finished with 32 carries for 221 yards against the Bulls' defense. Until the final series he played, Jones was held to 168 yards rushing on 28 carries.

The Bulls rolled up 398 yards of total offense against the Cavaliers, led by its senior-dominated offensive line and the play of Roth, Haddad and Freedy. Roth went over 100 yards for the second straight week with 114 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown. Haddad broke his own single-season reception record with eight catches for 141 yards, giving him 75 receptions for the season and 1,058 yards. The 1,058 yards tied his own school record set in 1997.

Haddad also went over 100 yards receiving in a game for the seventh time this season and the 17th time of his career. Freedy, meanwhile, hit 16-of-31 passes for 193 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.

The defense was led by junior cornerback Tory Smith, who had a career-high eight tackles (six solos). Safety Jeff Lawrence added seven tackles.

Volleyball

Kent State 4, UB 1 (13-15, 15-13, 9-15, 12-15)
Miami (OH) 3, UB 0 (1-15, 5-15, 7-15)

The Bulls took on visiting Kent Friday night, losing in four games, 13-15, 15-13, 9-15, 12-15. UB had won a match in three games earlier in the season at Kent. Rebecca Meade had 22 kills and 37 digs, while Keri Shiels had 18 kills. Somer Deschambault had 60 assists and 32 digs.

In a match Saturday, the team lost its fourth straight, falling in three-straight games to visiting Miami-OH, 1-15, 5-15, 7-15. Meade again led the team with 11 kills and 12 digs while Deschambault had 20 assists.

Swimming

Athletes of the Week

During the football team's 50-21 loss against host Virginia, senior Drew Haddad broke his own single-season reception record with eight catches for 141 yards, giving him 75 receptions for the season and 1,058 yards. The 1,058 yards tied his own school record set in 1997. Haddad also went over 100 yards receiving in a game for the seventh time this season and the 17th time of his career. Senior Kim Theetge won the 100 breastroke (1:06.88) and broke the St. Bonaventure pool record and her own personal best time in the process during the women's swimming loss (175-120) against the Bonnies Saturday

Men

Oakland 128, UB 104

The men's swimming team dropped its first match against a non-conference opponent, host Oakland, 128-104, on Saturday. First-place finishers for Coach Bud Termin's squad were John Nilles (50 freestyle - 21.32), Matt Baxter (200 breastroke - 2:14.87), Dave Sofer (one-meter diving - 228.70 points ) and Mike Lampo (three-meter diving - 208.90). The 400 freestyle relay team of Jason McLachlan, Kevin Kelly, Tony Lizauckas and Jamie Sauer also won (3:11.40).

Women

St. Bonaventure 175, UB 120

The women's team traveled to take on Western New York rival St. Bonaventure Saturday, losing 175-120. Once again, sophomore transfer Dawn Hickey led Coach Dorsi Raynold's team as she set new UB and personal-best records in the 1000 Freestyle (10:16.09 - first place overall) for the third week in a row. Hickey also placed first in the 500 freestyle (5:09.29).

Other notable performances came from Kim Theetge, who won the 100 breastroke (1:06.88) and broke the St. Bonaventure pool record and her own personal best time in the process. Inger Rooneem captured the 100 backstroke with a time of 59.01.