Shilla Omuriwae, a 5’6″ defensive specialist from Kampala, joined the UB volleyball team this year as a graduate student. Though it was only her first season, Shilla’s impact was felt both on and off the court. Shilla is currently ranked 6th in the NYCAC conference for average digs per game with 3.53. Shilla’s knowledge and love for the game has been a tremendous asset to our Purple Knights and will be dearly missed. Shilla’s reflections on the year: “I’m going to miss the girls so much this year. I’ll miss the trips and the practices and the intensity of the games. It was a high and low season but I think that we were very competitive and now we are ready for the tournament.”Mary Charissis, a 6’1” middle hitter from Athens, Greece has also joined the UB Volleyball team this season. Mary has been a dominant hitter in our conference and throughout the entire Northeast Region. Mary leads the team in hitting percentage and solo blocks. Mary will be joining the team next year not as a player, but as a graduate assistant coach, and team manager. Mary’s reflection on the year: “I feel so bad because I just don’t want this to be over. Volleyball is my life and I am going to miss it dearly. I am going to miss this year’s team and everything about it. We had such a good relationship off the court and that is why we were successful on the court. I am going to miss everything very much.”
Tiajana (Tia) Bokic, a 5’10” outside hitter and defensive specialist from Subotica, Serbia is completing her second season while wearing the “UB” colors. Tia leads our team with 54 service aces, and was named to the all-tournament team this year when the team traveled to Cal State Dominguez Hills. Tia is an intense, smart, gifted player, and it will be very difficult to fill the shoes of an athlete as gifted and talented as she is. Tia’s reflection on the season: “I’m going to miss everything; this team really makes me feel at home away from home. The season was great and the team was like nothing else.”
Lindsay Bigelow, a 5’10” middle hitter from Malbrough, Massachusetts is a four year senior who has stuck with the Purple Knights through thick and thin. She was here when the UB Volleyball team was unknown in this region, and now she is a part of a great tradition in UB history. Lindsay will be graduating in May with a degree in fashion merchandising, and a 3.42 GPA. Lindsay’s reflection on the year: “After being on the team two years ago and now, it has been a great experience for me. I am going to miss this very much and I am especially going to miss the team and the game.”
Sinead Quirk, a setter from Wheaton, Illinois is also one of our four year members. Sinead was also here during the drought the volleyball team had a couple years ago. Sinead is one of the many reasons why the team is where they are today. Sinead, in her last regular season game, capped a career high with 1,119 assists, surpassing her total from last season of 1,107. Sinead’s reflection on the year: “This feeling is surreal; it really doesn’t feel like it’s over yet. You just never think its going to end and now its here and I feel important. Breaking my own record was awesome and the team was great this year. I think the one thing I am going to miss this year is the adrenalin rush during games.”