Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lafayette
Bucknell Volleyball's Late Push Not Enough in 3-2 Setback Against Lafayette
10/19/2007 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 19, 2007
EASTON, Pa. - After falling down in the match 2-0, the Bucknell volleyball team rallied to force a fifth game, but came up short in the deciding frame, dropping the match, 3-2 to Lafayette on Friday evening. The setback leaves the Bison at 9-13 on the year, 3-5 in the Patriot League, while the Leopards move to 11-13, 3-5 in league contests.
In game one, the score remained close until Lafayette strung together seven straight points to come from down by two at 20-18, to up by five at 25-20, and went on to take the opener, 30-24, behind a .358 team hitting percentage with 23 kills and just four errors in 53 attempts. Then in game two, with the score tied at 23, the Leopards used a 7-4 run to capture a 30-27 victory.
Bucknell trailed from the opening point of game three, but fought back and eventually took its first lead of the frame at 25-24. Lafayette then managed to tie the score on the next point. However, the Bison responded by notching the next four points and eventually sealed the 30-27 win with a kill by freshman Kelsey Lisle (Marriottsville, Md./Seton Keough).
The Orange and Blue started strong in game four, racing out to a 12-4 advantage and would lead by as many as nine on the way to a 30-25 win to force a fifth set.
However in game five, the Leopards jumped out in front, 7-1, and the six-point deficit proved too much for the Bison to overcome in the 15-9 decision for Lafayette.
Junior Emilie Hardinge (Darien, Conn./Darien) posted a match-best 18 kills for Bucknell, hit .317 (18-5-41) and added four blocks and a career-high six service aces. Freshman Kaitlin Segal (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Harvard-Westlake) followed with 11 kills and completed her double-double with 12 digs, while freshman Heidi Kamp (Springfield, Ore./Henry D. Sheldon) totaled 10 kills and four blocks. Lisle headed up the defensive effort with 17 digs, sophomore Jennifer Rupp (Manhattan Beach, Calif./Mira Costa) had 11 digs and junior Sheena Czipri (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) finished with 10 digs. Junior Shannon Pitsch (Oak Brook, Ill./Fenwick) dished 49 assists in the contest, as well.
For the Leopards, Katrina Racibarskas led the charge with 16 kills, Michaela Donohue registered 15 kills and 20 digs for a double-double and Cara Mulholland and Maura Kelly contributed totals of 14 and 11 kills, respectively. Setter Megan Carter aided the offense with 49 assists while also compiling 14 digs and Kari Horn recorded a match-best 26 digs.
Bucknell will return to action tomorrow, Oct. 20, with a match at Lehigh, which is slated to begin at 4 p.m.
