Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh *
Bucknell Volleyball Turns Back Lehigh, 3-1
11/4/2005 7:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 4, 2005
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Backed by a strong defensive effort, the Bucknell volleyball team picked up a key Patriot League road victory Friday night, 3-1 over Lehigh at Leeman-Turner Arena. The win, coupled with Lafayette's 3-0 win over Colgate, gave Bucknell (15-12, 7-5) a two-match lead over the Raiders for the fourth and final Patriot League Tournament spot with two regular-season league contests remaining.
Bucknell used 14 players in the victory over the Mountain Hawks (7-20, 0-12) and won by game scores of 30-25, 26-30, 30-21, 30-20. The Bison's offensive production was evenly distributed, with Kristen Sydlowski (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) and Jennie Smith (Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry) leading the way with eight kills each. Jenna Henderson (Elk Grove, Calif./Laguna Creek) added seven, while Amanda Grossmann (Allentown, Pa./Parkland), Shannon Pitsch (Oak Brook, Ill./Fenwick) and Emilie Hardinge (Darien, Conn./Darien) had five each.
The Bison had seven hitting errors in each of the first two games, but had a total of only seven combined in games three and four. Bucknell hit .455 with just one error in the momentum-changing third game.
Defensively, Bucknell came up with 11 blocks and outdug Lehigh 58-53. Sydlowski finished with a team-high 14 digs, while Chelsea Anderson (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Torrey Pines) added 13 and Handerson 12. Smith posted five blocks and Sarah Groman (Hollister, Calif./San Benito) and Grossmann chipped in four each.
The Bison forced 37 Lehigh hitting errors and held the Mountain Hawks to an .092 hitting percentage. Lehigh also had 15 service errors.
Shannon Spafford led Lehigh with 15 kills.
Bucknell can clinch a Patriot League Tournament berth with a victory on Saturday at Lafayette. The match starts at 4 p.m. at Kirby Sports Center.
