Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
West Chester
Bucknell Volleyball Posts 3-0 Win Over West Chester in Home Opener
9/5/2006 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Sept. 5, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell volleyball squad combined for 16.5 team blocks in its 3-0 victory over West Chester in Davis Gym on Tuesday evening. The win moved the Bison to 3-5 on the year while the Golden Rams dropped to 4-1.
Sophomore Emilie Hardinge (Darien, Conn./Darien) headed up the offense for the Orange and Blue, tallying 11 kills and a career-best eight blocks (4-4). Senior Amanda Grossmann (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) followed with 10 kills, hitting .562 with just one error in 16 attempts, while also contributing five block assists. Junior Jenna Henderson (Elk Grove, Calif./Laguna Creek) registered nine kills and senior Sarah Groman (Hollister, Calif./San Benito) added five block assists. Sophomore Shannon Pitsch (Oak Brook, Ill./Fenwick) aided the attack with 31 assists and three blocks and chipped defensively in with eight digs. Senior Kristen Sydlowski (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty) posted a match-high 10 digs.
For West Chester, Kristen Decker and Nicole Vetock led the squad with eight kills apiece. Setter Lisa Yeasted recorded 20 assists, five kills and six digs and Jacqueline Vivanco totaled nine digs.
In game one, the Bison held a one-point lead a 20-19, but went on a 10-4 run, closing out the game with a kill by Grossmann for a 30-23 victory.
Bucknell held a narrow advantage at 14-12 in game two before a kill by Hardinge returned the ball to the Orange and Blue with senior Jennie Smith (Roanoke, Va./Patrick Henry) at the service line. Smith served the next 14 straight points as the Bison widened the gap to 29-12. A Bucknell attack error broke up the string, but Grossmann once again tallied the game point at 30-12.
In the third frame, West Chester held the lead at 24-22 when Bucknell called a timeout. Upon returning to the court, the Bison responded with an 8-1 run and sealed the match victory with a 30-25 decision.
"The things that we have spent the most time working on improving were evident tonight in the way we played," said head coach Cindy Opalski. "We blocked well and we passed well. Clearly, when you can control the tempo of the game, you can terminate better. We played with controlled aggression and that is what we need to do."
Bucknell next travels to Brooklyn, N.Y., where the team will begin play in the Saint Francis (N.Y.) Invitational with a match against Niagara on Friday, Sept. 8, at 5 p.m.
