2014 15 UB Athletics Year In Review

2014-15

ATHLETIC YEAR IN REVIEW

LAMONTE BEARDEN All-MAC Freshman Team

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JACKIE HALL

3rd Team NCAA All-American

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JON JONES

NCAA National Champion

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CHRISTA BACCAS

MAC Defensive Player of the Year

Year In Review Bulls Fans: The 2014-15 season proved to be a momentous one for UB Athletics with much to be proud of and numerous firsts for many of our programs. Our Women’s Soccer, Men’s Basketball and Men’s Tennis teams all won MAC Championships for the 1st time in program history. These championships led to 3 NCAA tournament bids for these respective programs. Prior to the 2014-15 season, we only had 1 team receive an NCAA tournament bid in our Division I history with Women’s Tennis winning the MAC in 2008. Lastly, Jon Jones won the program’s 1st National Championship. Simply put, this was a breakthrough year for UB Athletics!

Our student-athletes continued to excel in the classroom as well, posting a cumulative GPA of 3.045 making this the 7th semester in a row above a 3.0 average. We had 14 teams above a 3.0, 30 4.0 scholars and 296 student-athletes above a 3.0.

To be sure, it was a great year all around for our Bulls!

Finally, we are extremely proud to post a record breaking year in both Blue & White Fund membership and donations received. Private support is absolutely paramount to our continued success. We want to thank you for your support

Future Facilities

as we work to realize the vast potential of this “sleeping giant,” and bring big time college athletics to Western New York.

Go Bulls!

Daniel J. White Director of Athletics State University of New York at Buffalo

13'-6"

Murchie Family Football Center

Edmond J. Gicewicz Club at UB Stadium

13'-6"

UB FOOTBALL HEADQUARTERS

EXTERIOR OPTION F

State University of New York at Buffalo

04.30.15

CDSK103F

UB FOOTBALL HEADQUARTERS

EXTERIOR OPTION F

State University of New York at Buffalo

04.30.15

UB Fieldhouse

CDSK103F

Year In Review Academic Excellence

UB student-athletes continue to raise the bar with academic excellence. The grade point averages (GPA) of our studentathletes continues to showcase their dedication to academic achievement.

Not only are they playing their respective sport at a high level with multiple MAC Championships and NCAA tournament bids, they are also receiving a world-class education from a prestigious university.

Community Service

Our student-athletes are not only doing tremendous things in the classroom and in competition, they are also making a positive impact within the campus and Western New York communities. With the leadership of our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), our student-athletes have logged between 2,500-3,000 service hours this academic year.

Examples of annual projects include participation in the Linda Yalem Safety Run, local school visits, Adopt-A-Family, the Ronald McDonald House, and Project ACES. Our student-athletes take their leadership role in the community very seriously, and continue to lead by example in giving back to the community that supports them.

The 2015 spring semester marked the 7th consecutive semester with our average student-athlete GPA above 3.0. This is also the first 7 times it has happened in program history. We also had an all-time best 14 teams accomplish a GPA above a 3.0. Further, we had 30 studentathletes accomplish a perfect 4.0 GPA, and over 60% accomplish a 3.0 or better. Our student-athletes continue to display the well rounded experience UB provides, effectively preparing them for the next step in their life.

• Average GPA of 3.07 (Fall) and 3.045 (Spring) • 7th consecutive semester above a 3.0 • 14 teams above a 3.0 • 137 student-athletes above a 3.5 • Women’s Soccer - Highest GPA (3.412)

Volleyball

The Bulls finished with a 17-15 record and qualified for the MAC Tournament for the 1st time since the tournament moved to 8 teams in 2011. The Bulls fell to the eventual conference champion Western Michigan, and then closed the season by beating instate opponent Albany in a 3-0 sweep.

The Bulls placed 2 members on the postseason All-MAC Team, including Tahleia Bishop, who became the 1st player in school history named to the All-MAC 1st Team in multiple seasons. Freshman Cassie Shado was named to the league’s All-Freshman Team. The Bulls also had 4 student-athletes named Academic All-MAC. • Tahleia Bishop, Jr. - 1st Team All-MAC • Cassie Shado, Fr. - All-MAC Freshman Team • Megan Lipski, Jr. - Academic All-MAC, Fall Athlete of Distinction • Academic All-MAC - Sable Staller, Amber Hatchett, Megan Lin

Football

The 2014 Bulls football team finished the season 5-6 overall and 3-4 in the MAC (1 canceled game). The Bulls featured a highoctane offense that averaged 32.3 points per game and 438.2 yards of offense per game, which were both program records. The offense was led by quarterback Joe Licata, who threw for 2,647 yards and a school record 29 touchdowns on the season. He also broke the school record for career touchdown passes with 60. Running back Anthone Taylor rushed for 1,403 yards on the year – the 2nd highest single-season total in school history. Taylor was the 1st player in school history to have three 200-yard games in the same season.

The Bulls finished the year strong winning their final 2 games of the season. This year’s team tied a school record with 7 players named to AllMAC teams. Kristjan Sokoli was selected in the 6th round of the NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.

• 2nd Team All-MAC - Adam Redden, Anthone Taylor, Jake Silas, Devin Campbell • 3rd Team All-MAC - Andre Davis, Ron Willoughby, Lee Skinner

Women’s Soccer (16-3-3, .727)

The 2014 Bulls accomplished the most decorated season in school history. The Bulls set records in wins (16) and home wins (11), fewest losses (3) and home losses (0), shutouts (14), longest winning streak (14), and longest shutout streak (510 minutes). The Bulls went undefeated in conference play for the 1st time in program history and 3rd time in MAC history. They won the program’s 1st MAC Tournament Championship and berth in the NCAA Tournament. They also swept the MAC awards (Coach of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Freshman of the Year) for the 1st time in MAC history. This stellar team finished the season with an RPI of 35, and received votes in the Top 25.

• • • • •

Shawn Burke, Head Coach - Most wins (16) + highest win % (.727) of any 1st year Head Coach, MAC & Regional Coach of the Year Jackie Hall, Jr. - 1st NCAA All-American & 2nd Academic All-American in D1 program history, 1st Team All-Region, MAC Defensive Player of the Year, 1st Team All-MAC, Academic All-MAC Katie Roberts, Sr. - MAC Offensive Player of the Year, 1st Team All-MAC, 2nd Team All-Region, Academic All-MAC Laura Dougall, Fr. - MAC Freshman of the Year, 1st Team All-MAC, MAC All-Freshman Team, most shutouts in a season (13), longest shutout streak (510:48), minutes played in a season (1,985) in program history Courtney Mann, Sr. - 1st Team All-MAC, Academic All-MAC, Sophie Therien, Sr. - 2nd Team All-MAC, Celina Carrero, So. - 2nd Team All-MAC, Julia Benati, Fr. - All-MAC Freshman Team, Megan Abman, Sr. - Academic All-MAC, Kassidy Kidd, Jr. - Academic All-MAC, Kristin Markiewicz, Jr. - Academic All-MAC, Andrea Niper, So. - Academic All-MAC

Men’s Basketball (23-10, .697)

Following up on the Women’s Soccer team’s historic season, our men’s basketball team went on to have a historic season of their own. They went 23-10 on the season as the Bulls won the program’s 1st ever MAC Tournament Title and made its 1st ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament against West Virginia. The 23 wins were tied for the most in school history.

Junior Justin Moss became the 2nd straight UB player named the MAC Player of the Year and was named to the All-MAC 1st Team. Senior Xavier Ford was named the MAC Tournament Most Valuable Player, while freshman Lamonte Bearden was named to the MAC’s All-Freshman Team. The Bulls finished in the top 3 in the MAC in scoring, scoring margin, rebounding, assists, steals, and turnover margin.

The Bulls, who finished the season 31st in the RPI rankings, played Final Four teams Kentucky and Wisconsin, holding halftime leads on both programs.

• • • • •

Justin Moss, Jr. - MAC Player of the Year, 1st Team All-MAC, Honorable Mention NCAA All-American Xavier Ford, Sr. - MAC Tournament MVP Shannon Evans, So. - 2nd Team All-MAC, Academic All-MAC Lamonte Bearden, Fr. - All-MAC Freshman Team Will Regan, Sr. - Academic All-MAC (3rd straight season)

Swimming & Diving

The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams posted strong individual and team performances throughout the season.

The women’s team went 8-2 in dual meets on the season and finished 4th at the MAC Championships. Jessica Powers won 3 titles at the MAC Championships and was named 1st team AllMAC. Megan Burns won the 50 and 100 freestyle events in every race on the season and was named 1st Team All-MAC. Spencer Rodriguez was named the MAC’s Most Outstanding Senior and named 1st Team All-MAC. Brittney Walters was named 2nd Team All-MAC. The men’s team finished 3rd at the MAC Championships with well-rounded scoring. Scott Huang shattered his own record in the 200 breaststroke to earn 2nd team All-MAC honors. Oliver Patrouch and Antonio Lanzi were also named 2nd Team All-MAC. In the diving well, Cade Bennett broke the school record on the 3-meter board with a score of 382.95.

• Academic All-MAC - Katarina Chang, Alexis Valedon, Brittney Walters, Eric Forrester, Callum Liddiard, John Nord • 1st Team All-MAC- Megan Burns, Jessica Powers, Spencer Rodriguez • 2nd Team All-MAC - Brittney Walters, Scott Huang, Oliver Patrouch, Antonio Lanzi

Men’s Soccer

The 2014 men’s soccer program, led by 2nd year Head Coach Stu Riddle, earned their best record since the 2011 campaign as they finished the season 5-10-2 including a 4-1-1 mark at UB Stadium. The Bulls just missed out on the MAC Tournament, coming within 1 game of earning a berth. Russell Cicerone was one of the best players in the MAC once again as he earned 1st Team All-MAC accolades for the 2nd straight year, becoming the 1st to do so since Steve Butcher did in 1998 and 1999. Cicerone closed the season with 10 goals and 3 assists for 23 points. The Bulls also had a record 8 players named Academic All-MAC. Senior Waleed Cassis was also given the MAC Medal of Excellence Award.

• Russell Cicerone, So. - 1st Team All-MAC • Waleed Cassis, Sr. - MAC Medal of Excellence Award • Academic All-MAC - Waleed Cassis, Marcus Hanson, Nicolai Berry, Braden Culver, Kristian Lee-Him, Nicolay Netskar, Ryan Pereira, Steven Stryker

Women’s Tennis

3rd year Head Coach Kristen Maines led the Bulls to a win in the regular season finale over Northern Illinois to secure a spot in the MAC Tournament.

The Bulls’ (7-11) season came to a conclusion in the MAC quarterfinals as the 6th seeded Bulls fell to the 3rd seeded Ball State Cardinals.

Wrestling

In their 2nd year under Head Coach John Stutzman, the Bulls made large improvements during the 2014-15 campaign, improving their win total by 2. As the youngest team in the nation, the Bulls fell just short in close matches while continuing to grow as a team during the tough 5-14 season.

Senior Captain Max Soria led the Bulls as he finished with an overall record of 21-8, which included a 12-6 dual meet record. Soria added to his accomplishments in the classroom as he was also named to the Academic All-MAC squad.

• Max Soria, Sr. - Academic All-MAC

Freshman Tanja Stojanovska, who played 1st and 2nd singles throughout the season, was named 1st Team All-MAC, while garnering MAC Freshman of the Year honors as well. She was named MAC Singles Player of the Week on April 1st after a 2-0 performance in conference play at the top singles spot. Lone senior Laura Fernandez was selected to the Academic All-MAC team. The Bulls tallied 86 singles victories and 43 doubles wins over the course of the 2014-15 season.

• Tanja Stojanovska, Fr. - MAC Freshman of the Year, 1st Team All-MAC • Laura Fernandez, Sr. - Academic All-MAC

Women’s Basketball

The 2014-15 women’s basketball team experienced a historic year with its 1st berth into the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, which was the 2nd postseason appearance in program history. The team’s 19 wins were the most since the 2000-01 season. Head Coach Felisha Legette-Jack led the Bulls to back-to-back winning seasons for the 1st time since the 1999-00 and 2000-01 seasons.

Both Kristen Sharkey and Mackenzie Loesing eclipsed the 1,000 career points plateau, which gathered them All-MAC honors. Christa Baccas was named the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-MAC. • Kristen Sharkey, Sr. - Academic All-MAC, 2nd Team All-MAC, All-MAC Tournament Team • Mackenzie Loesing, Jr. - Academic All-MAC, MAC Sixth Player of the Year, 3rd Team All-MAC • Christa Baccas, Sr. - MAC Defensive Player of the Year, Honorable Mention All-MAC • Alexus Malone, So. - Academic All-MAC

Women’s Rowing

The women’s rowing team earned 2 bronze medals en route to a 3rd place finish at the 2015 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championships. Both the Varsity 8 and Second Varsity 8 boats finished 3rd to earn the bronze medal. Senior Sara-Ann Fox earned the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, given to State University of New York students who have best demonstrated and been recognized for their integration of academic excellence with other aspects of their lives, which may include leadership, campus involvement, community service, the arts, athletics, or career achievement.

• Sara-Ann Fox, Sr. - Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence • Katie Coffin, Sr. - Academic All-CAA • All-CAA - Jessica Levy, Samantha Paige

Softball

The Bulls ended the season with a 5-0 route of Western Michigan, but battled pitching struggles and inexperience with a final record of 13-37.

The Bulls return a large core of the team, coupled with an impressive recruiting class.

Senior Alexis Curtiss had one of the best seasons of any player in program history as she was named st 1 Team All-MAC, Academic All-District, and NFCA 1st Team All-Region.

Curtiss set school records for career hits, career doubles, and doubles in a season. Freshman Leandra Jew was also named to the All-Freshman team.

• Alexis Curtiss, Sr. - 1st Team All-MAC, NFCA 1st Team All-Region • Leandra Jew, Fr. - All-MAC Freshman Team

Men’s Tennis (12-11, .522)

The 2014-15 men’s tennis team won the MAC Tournament for the 1st time in program history.

UB claimed the title as the 4th seed knocking off Northern Illinois in the semifinals, 4-2, and Binghamton, 4-2, in come-from-behind fashion in the championship match. Lee Nickell, the MAC Coach of the Year, led the Bulls (12-11) to their 4th MAC Tournament championship match appearance in 6 years and advanced UB to the NCAA Tournament for the 1st time in program history.

Pablo Alvarez was named the Most Outstanding Player of the MAC Tournament, and was joined by Amar Hromic on the All-Tournament team. For the 4th time in 4 years, Damien David was an All-MAC selection.

David and Alvarez were named to the 2nd team while David and Jonathan Hannestad tallied Academic All-MAC nods. Bulls were named MAC Singles Player of the Week 4 times this spring and Doubles Team of the Week on 3 occasions. The Bulls tallied 143 singles victories and 64 doubles wins over the course of the 2014-15 season.

• Lee Nickell, Head Coach - MAC Coach of the Year • Pablo Alvarez, Jr. - MAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, All-Tournament Team, 2nd Team All-MAC • Damien David, Sr. - 2nd Team All-MAC, Academic All-MAC • Amar Hromic, Jr. - All-Tournament Team • Jonathan Hannestad, So. - Academic All-MAC

Track & Field/Cross Country

The Bulls had a standout Track & Field season, highlighted by a NCAA National Championship to close the season. The men’s indoor team achieved a 15th place finish at the Indoor National Championships, the finest in program history.

Senior Jon Jones and junior Mike Morgan both placed 3rd at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Jones did so in the shot put and Morgan in the heptathlon. Both were named NCAA 1st Team All-Americans. The Bulls snapped 18 school records, 10 during the indoor season and 8 outdoors, in 2014-15. The Bulls sent 3 to the NCAA outdoor championships, good for a 19th place finish. Ryan Billian competed in the 100m dash, Mike Morgan in the decathlon, and Jon Jones was crowned the 2015 NCAA Shot Put National Champion. He was honored as the USTFCCCA Northeast Region Indoor and Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year. Jones, a six-time NCAA All-American, also finished his career with the shot put school record.

The Bulls combined to have 15 student-athletes receive 1st or 2nd Team AllMAC honors at the Indoor and Outdoor MAC Championships. They claimed gold in 6 events. Camaria Long won the indoor 200m dash, Meghan Manley won the indoor and outdoor 800m runs, Jones won the shot put at both meets, and the men won the indoor distance medley relay.

During the 2014 Cross Country season, the men finished 4th at the MAC Championships and the women 7th. They went on to place 14th and 19th, respectively, at the NCAA Northeast Championships. Alec Peinkofer led the men’s squad at the conference meet, placing 12th overall, which was good for 2nd Team All-MAC accolades.

• Jon Jones, Sr. - 1st Team All-American, USTFCCCA Northeast Region Indoor Field Athlete of the Year, NCAA National Champion • Mike Morgan, Jr. - 1st Team All-American • 1st Team All-MAC - Camaria Long, Meghan Manley, Cameron Bruce, Brian Crimmins, Jon Jones, Treyvon Mask, Mike Morgan, Tyler Scheving • 2nd Team All-MAC - Ryan Billian, Brian Cummiskey, Joshua Gali, Craig Howard, Darien Johnson, Devon Patterson, Alec Peinkofer • Academic All-MAC - Pier Berkmans, Brian Crimmins, Barrett Kemp, Tyler Scheving, Lloyd Webb, Chrissy Clarkin, Meagan Hopkins, Gabby Leo, Elizabeth Mansfield, Taylor Bates, Corinne Birchard, Isabella Borini, Caroline Brown, Tyra Forbes, Bailey Kemp, Christine Lyttle, Emma Siuciak, Kelly Truppo, Melinda Wheeler, Zach Ahart, Brian Cummiskey, Matthew Killian, Austin Price, Chris Reape

Baseball

The 2014-15 baseball campaign didn’t go as planned for the Bulls as they were unable to qualify for the MAC Tournament for the 1st time since the 2010-11 season. The Bulls finished with an overall record of 16-35 (7-20). The Bulls pitching staff set a program record for strikeouts in a season as they struck out a combined 376 batters on the season. Nick Sinay led the Bulls offensively all season long as st he earned 1 Team All-MAC and All-Defensive team accolades after earning a .326 batting average to go along with a team-best 42 runs, 60 hits, 18 RBI’s and 50 walks. The junior also ranked 2nd in the nation in stolen bases with 39, breaking the single-season program record and career program record for stolen bases. Following the season, Sinay was drafted in the 22nd round by the Toronto Blue Jays.

• Nick Sinay, Jr. - 1st Team All-MAC

New Head Coaches Lance Leipold was named the 25th Head Coach in the history of the State University of New York at Buffalo football program on December 1st, 2014.

Leipold comes to UB from the University of WisconsinWhitewater where he has compiled an astounding 1096 record and won 6 Division III National Championships over his 8 seasons. The Warhawks had never won a National Title before Leipold’s arrival as Head Coach. A six-time National Coach of the Year, Leipold reached 100 career victories faster than any other coach in NCAA history – at any level.

Leipold has gathered multiple honors from as many as five football-related organizations. He earned his 6th American Football Coaches Association Division III Coach of the Year award in 2014. He has won the award more

Lance Leipold Football times than any active coach at any level. He passed the late Joe Paterno, who was a five-time recipient of the award.

Coaching Experience

1987 - University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (QBs) 1988 - University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (WRs) 1989 - Doane College (Nebraska) (AC) 1990 - University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (AC) 1991-93 - University of Wisconsin (GA) 1994-00 - University of Nebraska-Omaha (AC) 2001-03 - University of Nebraska (AC) 2004-06 - University of Nebraska-Omaha (Asst HC/OC) 2007-14 - University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (HC) 2015-Pres - State University of New York, Buffalo (HC)

Blair Brown Lipsitz Volleyball Blair Brown Lipsitz was named the volleyball Head Coach on April 7th, 2015. A four-time National Champion and two-time 1st Team All-American, Lipsitz was most recently director of the United States Elite Volleyball Camp.

Following her collegiate career, Lipsitz played professionally from 2011 through 2013, having seen time in Italy, Puerto Rico and France. Her final professional season was in 2013 when she played for the Evreux Volleyball Club in Evreux, France.

Lipsitz was a four-time National Champion at Penn State (2007-10) and a two-time 1st Team All-American (2009 & 2010), as well as a 2nd Team All-American in 2008. She was named the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year in 2010, while also winning the Honda Sports Award, which is given to the best collegiate female athlete in each different sport.

Lipsitz has some familiarity with the Bulls, spending last spring working as a volunteer assistant. She also served as an analyst and color commentator for UB Volleyball matches aired on ESPN3 last season.

Nate Oats Men’s Basketball Nate Oats was named the Head Men’s Basketball Coach on April 11th, 2015 after spending 2 seasons as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for the Bulls, who advanced to the 1st NCAA Tournament in school history.

Prior to joining the Bulls, Oats completed 11 seasons (222-52) as Head Coach at Romulus High School in Detroit, Michigan, winning the school’s 1st state title in 27 years in 2012-13, finishing the season 271. Romulus featured one of the premiere teams in the country with numerous national top 25 rankings during his tenure. Oats was named the 2013 Detroit News State Coach of the Year, the Detroit Free Press

State Coach of the Year, and the BCAM State Coach of the Year.

Prior honors include the 2009 Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan Class A Coach of the Year, the 2005 and 2008 Detroit Free Press Metro Coach of the Year, and the 2005 Detroit News Metro Coach of the Year, and the Detroit Free Press Metro West Coach of the Year.

Oats played college basketball at Maranatha Baptist University in Watertown, Wisconsin where he also later coached. He then coached at Wisconsin-Whitewater before heading to Romulus.

“BUILDING AMERICA’S NEXT BIG TIME COLLEGE ATHLETICS BRAND”

Year In Review

Facility Improvements Smolinski Family Sports Medicine Center

Men’s & Women’s Basketball Hallway

Alumni Arena Interior Update

Record Breaking Fundraising Year Membership

End of FY 14

End of FY 15

% Increase

1,758

2,322

32%

$2,183,901 (record)

2,322 (record)

Cash Collections

FY 14 ($)

FY 15 ($)

% Increase

$1,284,760

$2,183,901

70%

“Getting the opportunity to be a student-athlete at UB has been such a great experience not just on the field, but in the classroom as well. The pride and honor I feel before kickoff knowing that I’m representing such a prestigious institution is beyond words. I know that these memories and opportunities would not be possible without the donors of the Blue & White Fund, and I’m truly thankful for their support.”

- Marcus Hanson, Men’s Soccer

Class of 2016, Communications

#NYBI Block B Letter Winners Association

Block B is committed to sustaining the tradition of UB Athletics by reconnecting all generations of former student-athletes who competed for the Bulls. The members of Block B enhance the overall experience of our current student-athletes and lay the foundation for their future support of our program. Block B has experienced a steady increase in membership, currently sitting at 501 members.

501

members (record) 202 Alumni Arena | @UBBlueAndWhite

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