Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Splits on Day Two of Bucknell Volleyball Invitational
9/17/2005 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 17, 2005
Bucknell vs. Canisius Box Score/Bucknell vs. St John's Box Score
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell volleyball squad split its matches on day two of the Bucknell Invitational, defeating Canisius, 3-1, and falling to St. John's 3-0. The Bison sit at 7-4 on the season after today's action, while the Golden Griffins fell to 3-6 and the Red Storm moved to 13-3.
Against Canisius, Bucknell dropped game one, 30-27, but won games two, three and four by the scores of 30-27, 30-23 and 30-28. After splitting the first two games, game three was evenly played with the team's keeping within two points of each other until the Bison were able to take a 20-17 lead. Bucknell then went on an 11-5 run, capped off by three straight service aces by junior Kristen Sydlowski to close out the frame. Sydlowski recorded 11 kills, 10 digs and four aces against the Golden Griffins.
After trailing early in game four, the Bison rallied to take the game and the match from Canisius. Bucknell was down by as many as five before tying the score at 17, then holding a lead the rest of the way. Senior Becky Fisher led the Bison offense with 13 kills. Junior Amanda Grossman tallied 12 kills and hit .417 (12-2-24), while classmate Jennie Smith registered 10 kills. Setters Jessica Le and Shannon Pitsch added 26 assists apiece and chipped in six and seven digs, respectively. Chelsea Anderson contributed a match-best 22 digs along with two service aces to help her earn All-Tournament libero honors. Fisher and Sarah Groman represented Bucknell on the All-Tournament squad as well.
The Bison played competitively in all three games against the Red Storm despite dropping three straight. Midway through game one, Bucknell had the score knotted at 15 before Shameka Mitchell and Caitlin Rimgaila helped St. John's to a 30-21 win. Mitchell, the tournament MVP, had 15 kills in the match and hit .323, while Rimgaila posted a total of 10 kills and hit .588 with three blocks.
Bucknell found itself down 7-1 in game two and could not overcome the six-point deficit as the Red Storm took game two, 30-19. Much like game one, game three was hard fought, with the score close from beginning to end, before St. John's managed to edge the Bison, 30-26. Latoya Blunt helped seal the victory for the Red Storm as she tallied the team's final three kills. Blunt registered a match-best 15 kills and hit .323.
Groman recorded nine kills and hit .444 to lead Bucknell's offense. Jenna Henderson followed with eight kills and Sydlowski contributed seven kills and two aces. Anderson posted 10 digs, Pitsch tallied 25 assists and nine digs, while Le chipped in with 11 assists.
"We had a very good weekend with contributions from several players both offensively and defensively," said Bucknell head coach Cindy Opalski. "If this progress continues, we will more than be ready to challenge teams in the Patriot League."
The Bison will look to do just that as the team opens conference play in their next match on Friday, Sept. 23, against American at 7 p.m. in Washington, D.C.
Bucknell Invitational All-Tournament Team
#12 Shameka Mitchell, St. John's - MVP
#8 Patti Hardiman, St. John's
#2 Becky Fisher, Bucknell
#7 Sarah Groman, Bucknell
#5 Mary Boller, MH, Canisius
#3 Shauniece Steward, Coppin State
All-Tournament Libero - #3 Chelsea Anderson, Bucknell
Bucknell Invitational Results
St. John's 3, Canisius 0
Bucknell 3, Coppin State 1
St. John's 3, Coppin State 0
Bucknell 3, Canisius 1
Canisius 3, Coppin State 0
St. John's 3, Bucknell 0
