Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
American (PL Championship)
American Tops Bucknell for Patriot League Volleyball Title
11/23/2003 7:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 23, 2003
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Conference player of the year and Tournament MVP Karla Kucerkova had 26 kills to lead American to a 3-0 victory over Bucknell Saturday in the Patriot League championship match at Bender Arena.
The Eagles (21-9), who have never lost a regular season or postseason conference match since joining the league in 2001, will advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Bucknell finishes a very successful season at 16-13. The Bison went 11-3 during the Patriot League regular season - their best record ever - with two of the losses coming to American.
The Eagles had to come from behind in each of the first two games on Sunday in order to prevail 30-27, 30-25, 30-15.
"I am extremely proud of the way we fought today," said Cindy Opalski, the Patriot League Coach of the Year for 2003. "I don't know if we played any better all season than we did the first two games today. Our kids smelled a championship and fought as hard as they could. The Patriot League Tournament is only an end product of our progress over the last three months. The determination, spirit and passion that these kids brought to the gym every day made me proud to be their coach, and they should be proud of their accomplishments."
Bucknell led by as many as three points on three occasions in the opening frame. With the Bison leading 18-17, Cutrina Biddulph put down back-to-back kills and Erin Allgaier had a service ace to give American the lead for good at 20-18. The Bison fought back to tie at 25 on Brandi Trapasso's kill, and again at 27 on Jessica Bissett's put-away, but American scored the final three points of the game to take a 1-0 lead.
Bucknell led 11-8 in game two following a kill from Brandi Trapasso and an American ball handling error. The Eagles scored the next four points in a row to ignite 7-1 run that gave them lead for good. Bucknell closed within 23-21 on Chelsea Robertson's ace, but American scored four straight points to take control and closed out the game on a kill by Daria Bobko.
The Eagles sprinted to a 6-1 lead in game three and never looked back. Leading 19-13, American finished on an 11-2 run, with Biddulph's kill on championship point ending the contest.
Brandi Trapasso led the Bison with 13 kills and hit .375, while Jackie Leahy added 11 kills. Leahy finished the season with 413 kills, just eight shy of Melissa Wharton's Bucknell single-season record, set in 1996. Breean Trapasso finished with 33 assists and four blocks.
Defensively, Chelsea Anderson had 11 digs and Jennie Smith recorded a pair of block assists, giving her 101 for the season, which was just four shy of Wharton's school record, also set in 1996.
Bucknell hit .185 in the match, compared to American's .349. In the third and deciding game, American hit a sizzling .457, while the Bison hit just -.030.
