Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh
Bucknell Volleyball Collects 3-0 Victory Over Lehigh
10/20/2007 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Oct. 20, 2007
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Behind a well-rounded effort by junior Shannon Pitsch (Oak Brook, Ill./Fenwick), the Bucknell volleyball team collected a 3-0 victory over Lehigh in Patriot League action on Saturday afternoon. Pitsch totaled five kills, 30 assists, four service aces and seven digs, helping the Bison improve to 10-13, 4-5 in the Patriot League. With the loss, the Mountain Hawks dropped to 1-8 in league play, 4-17 overall.
Bucknell raced out to a 7-1 lead in game one and quickly stretched its advantage to 11 at 20-9. Lehigh managed to climb back to within five on two occasions, but that would be as close as the Mountain Hawks would come in the 30-24 win for the Orange and Blue.
After beginning the second frame down 2-0, the Bison tallied the next four points to pull ahead, 4-2, and never trailed the rest of the way in the 30-21 decision.
Then in game three, Bucknell started off in a similar fashion to game one, striking early to build a 6-1 advantage. The Bison remained in control throughout the game and clinched the match with a 30-22 victory.
Junior Emilie Hardinge (Darien, Conn./Darien) paced the offense for the Orange and Blue with 11 kills and also adding eight digs. Senior Jenna Henderson (Elk Grove, Calif./Laguna Creek) followed with nine kills and eight digs, while freshman Heidi Kamp (Springfield, Ore./Henry D. Sheldon) contributed eight kills and four block assists. Junior Sheena Czipri (Aurora, Ill./West Aurora) set a career high with 15 digs and led the Bison in that category.
Shannon Spafford was the lone Lehigh player to reach double figures in kills as she finished with 11 and completed her double-double with a team-high 15 digs, while also adding six blocks. Brittany Thurston had seven kills and nine digs, Mo McReynolds tallied 10 digs and setters Brittany Dickinson and Kelley O'Keefe compiled totals of 14 and 11 assists, respectively.
Bucknell will return to action on Wednesday, Oct. 24, when the squad will travel to Loretto, Pa., for a non-league match against Saint Francis, which is set to begin at 7 p.m.
