Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
La Salle
La Salle Nips Bucknell Volleyball, 3-2
11/8/2005 7:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 8, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell volleyball team opened with a 2-0 lead, but could not hold on as La Salle came from behind and nipped the Orange and Blue, 3-2 on the court in Davis Gym Tuesday night. With the loss, the Bison fell to 16-13 overall while the Explorers improved to 11-18 on the season.
In game one, Bucknell opened up a sizable lead at 19-11 and did not look back, winning the game by a 30-23 margin. The Bison followed by capturing game two by the same score in a similar fashion. Game three was hard fought, with the teams going point for point for much of the way, but with the score tied at 28, a bad set for Bucknell and a kill by Abby Means gave La Salle the 30-28 victory. Then in game four, the Explorers jumped out to a nine-point lead early on and, while the Bison rallied to narrow the deficit to three, La Salle held on to force a game five with a 30-26 win. With the score tied at five in the deciding frame, the Explorers went on a 7-0 run to take a 12-5 lead, and held on to clinch the victory by taking game five, 15-8.
Junior Amanda Grossmann (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) led the Bison with 11 kills and hit .417 in the match with just one error in 24 attempts. Sophomore Jenna Henderson (Elk Grove, Calif./Laguna Creek) and junior Sarah Groman (Hollister, Calif./San Benito) followed with 10 kills apiece and juniors Kristen Sydlowski (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) and Jennie Smith (Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry) each added nine kills. Sydlowski had a squad-best 26 digs in the match while senior Chelsea Anderson (Rancho Santa Fe, Calif./Torrey Pines) contributed 22 digs and three service aces. Senior Jessica Le (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion) tallied 30 assists and three service aces and freshman Shannon Pitsch (Oak Brook, Ill./Fenwick) recorded 19 assists and two service aces.
Stephanie Owen posted a match-best 16 kills for La Salle along with 13 digs. Means chipped in with 12 kills and hit .579 with one error in 19 attempts. Setter Caitlin Conner totaled 62 assists and 12 digs while Carolyn Judge headed up the defense with 42 digs and Jackie Kushman totaled 10 digs.
Bucknell will close out the regular season with a Patriot League match against Colgate in Hamilton, N.Y., on Saturday, Nov. 12, at 6 p.m.
