Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
San Francisco
Bison Drop Two at VCU Invitational
9/8/2001 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 8, 2001
RICHMOND, Va. - The Bucknell University women's volleyball team lost a pair of matches to the University of San Francisco and Elon University this afternoon in the second day of the Virginia Commonwealth Volleyball Invitational.
The Bison, who defeated Virginia Commonwealth last night, concluded tournament play at 1-2. Bucknell is now 3-3 for the season.
Bucknell found itself matched up with a worthy adversary against San Francisco, which won in three games (30-25, 30-18, 30-21) over the Bison to improve to 4-2 on the season. Senior Shannon Walker led the Bison with 10 kills and just one error on 17 attempts for a .529 hitting percentage for the match. Whitney Williams contributed with 30 assists, and Brandi Trapasso notched 12 digs.
In the team's second match of the day, the Bison came out strong and built a 2-1 lead before Elon rallied to win a pair of nail-biters in the fourth and fifth games. Bucknell lost the opening game 30-28, but came back to take games three and four, 30-23 and 30-22. The Phoenix edged the Bison 30-28 in game four to even the match at 2-2, before coming out on top with an equally-close 15-13 win in the fifth and deciding game.
Freshman Jackie Leahy posted a career and match-high 17 kills to go with 11 digs to lead the Bison, while sophomore Brandi Trapassso also recorded a "double-double" with 16 kills and 14 digs. Walker enjoyed her second solid match of the day with 15 kills, while Williams turned in a season and match-high 49 assists to go with nine digs. Senior Melanie Gray chipped in with 12 kills.
Walker registered 37 digs and a .294 hitting percentage in three matches for the tournament and was selected to VCU's all-tournament team.
The Bison will make their home debut next weekend when they host the Bucknell Invitational. BU begins tournament play Friday evening at 8 p.m. against St. John's. Iona and Duquesne will round out the four-team field.
